Compare towns
Orwell vs Arkwright 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
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Orwell | Arkwright | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
859 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4Lowest 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+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Arkwright and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$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±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— |
| Orwell and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,760 21% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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.