Compare towns
Jay 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
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Orwell | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,294Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest 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+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% 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 | — | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 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 | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 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.