Compare towns
Orange 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
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.
| Measure | Orange | Orwell | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
1,294Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% 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 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest 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 | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above 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 | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% 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 | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.