Compare towns

Orwell vs Newfane 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%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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.

MeasureOrwellNewfanePutnam
People
Population
1,294
1,456Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.5±7Lowest
22% above U.S.
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
Newfane 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%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
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%
29.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Newfane 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%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
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.
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
Putnam and Orwell 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
$284,200±$49k
15% below U.S.
$266,200±$48kLowest
20% below U.S.
Orwell and Newfane 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.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
—
Newfane 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.
$5,174Highest
66% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Newfane 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%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs 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%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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

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.