Compare towns
Benson vs Wallingford vs Whitingham 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%).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Whitingham | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,286Highest |
1,368 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% 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% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Whitingham 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% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 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 |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Wallingford 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. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Wallingford 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. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Whitingham 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.