Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
16,038Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.