Compare towns
Putnam vs Sheldon vs Benson 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).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Sheldon | Benson | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
2,267Highest |
784 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Benson 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Benson 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.