Compare towns

Putnam vs Bleecker 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).
Bleecker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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.

MeasurePutnamBleeckerOrwell
People
Population
540Lowest
563
1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
59.7±2.9Highest
53% above U.S.
47.5±7Lowest
22% above U.S.
Bleecker and Putnam 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%
8.9%±5.3Lowest
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%
34.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.9Highest
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
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$74,732±$21k
7% below U.S.
$70,417±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
Putnam and Bleecker 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.
$221,100±$61kLowest
34% 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 —
$950±$286Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,105±$51Highest
22% below U.S.
Orwell and Bleecker 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.
$3,893
25% above U.S.
$3,914Highest
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.1%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orwell and Bleecker 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 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.