Compare towns
Stratton vs Putnam vs Whiting vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Stratton | Putnam | Whiting | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
540Highest |
532 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.5 5% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$519Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whiting and Belvidere 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 | 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.