Compare towns
Benson vs Sutton vs Waterville 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
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Sutton | Waterville | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
9,452Highest |
680 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Waterville 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sutton | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.