Compare towns
Benson vs Waterville vs Whiting 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%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Waterville | Whiting | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Highest |
680 |
532Lowest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Whiting 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±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Whiting 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. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Putnam 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. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Whiting 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. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Benson 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Whiting 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.