What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Orwell
People
Population	540Lowest	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.	47.5±7Lowest 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%±5.2Lowest 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%	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±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.	$70,417±$22kLowest 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±$48kLowest 20% 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	—	$1,105±$51 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Putnam 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%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	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.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Putnam 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

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.