Compare towns
Orwell vs Unity 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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Unity | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,375Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Unity and Putnam 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Putnam 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% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Unity 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 |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Unity 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 | Unity School District | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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.