Compare towns
Putnam vs Worcester vs Orwell
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 highest household income ($92k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Worcester | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
831 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Orwell 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Orwell 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Worcester 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.