What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam Valley has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Kent has the most affordable homes ($390k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam Valley	Kent
People
Population	11,755Lowest	12,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.8±2.8Highest 15% above NY	43.4±1.4Lowest 9% above NY
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.2%±2.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Kent and Putnam Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%	17.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	42.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Kent and Putnam Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$137,656±$21kHighest 60% above NY	$129,012±$13kLowest 50% above NY
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$510,900±$37kHighest 21% above NY	$390,100±$15kLowest 8% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,000±$753Highest 23% above NY	$1,606±$224Lowest about the NY average
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$9,796Lowest 49% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±51Lowest NY: 52.1%	78.8%±49.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Kent and Putnam Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%	6.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1961Lowest 2 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	45 minHighest 37% above NY	39 minLowest 20% above NY
Work from home	13.9%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%	10.8%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Putnam Valley and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 484 in NY	#296 of 484 in NY
School district	PUTNAM VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CARMEL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PUTNAM VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.