Compare towns
Orwell vs Ira 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 the most people working from home (13.3%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Orwell | Ira | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
381Lowest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Ira and Putnam 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Ira 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. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Ira 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% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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.