Compare towns
Orwell vs Whiting vs Putnam vs Benson
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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Whiting | Putnam | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
532Lowest |
540 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Whiting 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Whiting 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. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Benson 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. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.