Compare towns
Putnam vs Troy vs Dresden
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 expensive homes ($266k median).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Troy | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,749Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Putnam 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% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy 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% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest 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. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below 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±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Dresden 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. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dresden and Troy 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putnam and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Troy School District | — |
| High school 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.