Compare towns
Putnam vs Middlebury 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 most homeowners (95.9%).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
7,220Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% 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 | 17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,250±$18k 7% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$417,400±$31kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,201±$120Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Middlebury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,795Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury and Benson 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% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.