Compare towns

Orwell vs Proctor vs Putnam vs Orange

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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).

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.

MeasureOrwellProctorPutnamOrange
People
Population
1,294
1,794Highest
540Lowest
957
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%
-2.2%
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.
50.3±5.3
29% above U.S.
Putnam and Orange 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%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4Lowest
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%
22.1%Lowest
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%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±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.
$71,302±$13k
12% below 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.
$222,000±$22k
33% 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±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,029±$202Lowest
27% below U.S.
—
$1,330±$153Highest
6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,914
25% above U.S.
$4,032Highest
29% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$3,545Lowest
14% 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%
0%±87Lowest
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%
7.6%
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%
87.8%
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.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 min
16% below U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orange 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 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
— —
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.