Compare towns
Benson vs Stockbridge vs Stratton 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).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Stockbridge | Stratton | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
791Highest |
532Lowest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3Highest 42% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Stockbridge 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% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Putnam 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% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,109±$12kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Putnam 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. |
$283,500±$26k 15% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Stratton and Stockbridge 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. |
$4,488 44% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.