Compare towns
Putnam vs Orwell vs Cornwall vs Exeter
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Orwell has the most renters (12.7% rent).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Orwell | Cornwall | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,294Highest |
1,208 |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Exeter 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cornwall 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±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Putnam 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. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$6,726Highest 116% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Exeter 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.