Compare towns
Benson vs Putney vs Newfane vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Benson | Putney | Newfane | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,622Highest |
1,456 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
— |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.