Compare towns
Orwell vs Cornwall vs Putnam vs Walden
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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Cornwall | Putnam | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,208 |
540Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Cornwall 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. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Cornwall 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±$25k about the U.S. average |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Walden 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.