What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kent has the most affordable homes ($390k median).

Putnam Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Kent	Putnam Valley
People
Population	12,896Highest	11,755Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.4±1.4Lowest 9% above NY	45.8±2.8Highest 15% above NY
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Kent and Putnam Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	18.8%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	50.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	6.2%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Kent and Putnam Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,012±$13kLowest 50% above NY	$137,656±$21kHighest 60% above NY
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,100±$15kLowest 8% below NY	$510,900±$37kHighest 21% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,606±$224Lowest about the NY average	$2,000±$753Highest 23% above NY
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,796Lowest 49% above NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.8%±49.7Highest NY: 52.1%	61%±51Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Kent and Putnam Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest NY: 14%	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minLowest 20% above NY	45 minHighest 37% above NY
Work from home	10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.9%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Putnam Valley and Kent 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	#296 of 484 in NY	#83 of 484 in NY
School district	CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PUTNAM VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	PUTNAM VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.