Compare towns
Orwell vs Mendon 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
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Mendon | Putnam | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,113 |
540 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.