Compare towns
Benson vs White River Junction 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%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
3,364Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| White River Junction 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. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| White River Junction 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. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and White River Junction 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.