Compare towns
Putney vs Benson vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Putney | Benson | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
784Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Putney and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
VT 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.