Compare towns
Putnam vs Wayne vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Wayne | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,033Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-17.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Lowest 35% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
59±2.8 48% above NY |
| Wayne and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
13.1%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Putnam and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Wayne and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
1.8%±3 NY: 7% |
| Putnam and Dresden 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 7% above NY |
$90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$64,180±$9kLowest 25% below NY |
| Putnam and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 37% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$191,500±$48kLowest 55% below NY |
| Wayne and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,031±$304Lowest 36% below NY |
$1,066±$109Highest 34% below NY |
| Dresden and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 44% below NY |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,138Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
41.4%±48.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Dresden and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.8% NY: 54.3% |
87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 34% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.