Compare towns

Hampton 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

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

MeasureHamptonOrwellPutnam
People
Population
1,145
1,294Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
47.5±7
22% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$70,417±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
Putnam and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$335,600±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,105±$51Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Hampton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,914Highest
25% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.