Compare towns

Orwell vs Proctor 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%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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.

MeasureOrwellProctorPutnam
People
Population
1,294
1,794Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.5±7
22% above U.S.
42.4±6.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam and Orwell 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%
21.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,417±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$74,167±$12k
8% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
Putnam and Proctor 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
$209,900±$17kLowest
37% below U.S.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$51Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% below U.S.
—
Orwell and Proctor 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.
$4,032Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.3%±16.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Proctor 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%
16.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 min
16% below U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orwell and Proctor 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 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
—
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.