Compare towns
Putnam vs Whiting vs Mendon
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 affordable homes ($266k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
532Lowest |
1,113Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$519Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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.