Compare towns
Orwell vs Putnam vs Whitingham
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 highest household income ($92k).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
540Lowest |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Whitingham 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%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% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Whitingham 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. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% 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. |
— | $673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Orwell 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.