Compare towns

Putnam vs Sheldon vs Troy

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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasurePutnamSheldonTroy
People
Population
540Lowest
2,267Highest
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.5±5.7
14% above U.S.
Putnam and Troy 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Troy 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%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Troy 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±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$87,938±$11k
9% above U.S.
Putnam and Troy 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±$61kHighest
18% below U.S.
$233,200±$21kLowest
30% below U.S.
Sheldon and Putnam 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.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,674Highest
18% above U.S.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
$3,644
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Troy and Putnam 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%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Troy School District
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.