What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Putnam has the most people working from home (9%).

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	Orange	Putnam
People
Population	7,573Lowest	9,292Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	20%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S.	$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S.	$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S.
	Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,136Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Orange 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	#275 of 282 in MA	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Orange · Ralph C Mahar	Putnam School District
High school in town	Ralph C Mahar Regional	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	9.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.