Compare towns
Putnam vs Salisbury vs Whiting
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 most homeowners (95.9%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
1,200Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Salisbury 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% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$306,900±$51kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$519Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Whiting 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. |
$4,842Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Salisbury 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whiting 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None 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.