Compare towns
Orleans vs Putnam vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Orleans | Putnam | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Highest |
540 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whiting and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.