Compare towns
Orwell vs Putnam vs Troy
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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
540Lowest |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% 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% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Troy 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest 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% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Troy 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±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% 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. |
— | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Troy 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.