Compare towns
Orwell vs Putnam vs Stratton
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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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.
| Measure | Orwell | Putnam | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
540 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Stratton 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 |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
— | $1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Stratton 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Putnam 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 | — |
| High school 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.