Compare towns
Putnam vs Jay vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Putnam | Jay | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
471Lowest |
784Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest 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 | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.