Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).
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 | Windham | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,432Highest |
551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-17.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Lowest 35% above NY |
56.5±5.1 42% above NY |
59±2.8Highest 48% above NY |
| Dresden and Windham 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% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
31.4%±5.2 NY: 17.9% |
27.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Windham 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% |
43.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 NY: 7% |
6.6%±5Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Windham and Putnam 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 |
$76,477±$17k 11% below NY |
$64,180±$9kLowest 25% below NY |
| Putnam and Windham 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 |
$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY |
$191,500±$48kLowest 55% below NY |
| Windham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $850±$295Lowest 48% below NY |
$1,066±$109Highest 34% below NY |
| Dresden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Highest 44% below NY |
$3,363 49% below NY |
$3,138Lowest 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.4%±48.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Windham and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.4%Highest NY: 14% |
7.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89% NY: 54.3% |
87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 34% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
31 minHighest 5% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 NY: 14.9% |
17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Windham 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.