Compare towns
Orwell vs Sheldon vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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.
| Measure | Orwell | Sheldon | Orange | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
2,267Highest |
957 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Orange and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.