Compare towns
Benson vs Sutton vs Shoreham 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Shoreham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
790 |
1,269Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% 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% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Shoreham 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Shoreham 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±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$316,400±$34kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Shoreham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
— |
| Shoreham 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. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Shoreham 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.