Compare towns
Orwell vs Pawlet 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%).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Pawlet | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,480Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet 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±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% 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 |
$266,200±$44kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Pawlet 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. |
$3,924Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Pawlet 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% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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.