Compare towns
Orwell vs Dover vs Putnam vs Orange
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Dover | Putnam | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,466Highest |
540Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 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% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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 | $70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% 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 | $335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Dover 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Orange 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.