Compare towns
Putnam vs Athens vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Putnam | Athens | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
431Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% 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 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest 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+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Athens and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.