Compare towns
Putnam vs Whiting vs Mansfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k 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 | Whiting | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
532Lowest |
691Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Mansfield 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$83,304±$14kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Whiting 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. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,122 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±12.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mansfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| 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.