Compare towns
Putney vs Ira vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Putney and Ira 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Ira 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Putney 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.