Compare towns

Cornwall vs Orwell vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k 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.

MeasureCornwallOrwellPutnam
People
Population
1,208
1,294Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
47.5±7Lowest
22% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Orwell and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
$70,417±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
Cornwall and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
$335,600±$25k
about the U.S. average
$266,200±$48kLowest
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,105±$51Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726Highest
116% above U.S.
$3,914
25% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
11% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.