Compare towns

Belvidere vs Exeter vs Putnam

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belvidere has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureBelvidereExeterPutnam
People
Population
422Lowest
913Highest
540
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±4
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
8.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,563±$18k
about the U.S. average
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
Putnam and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$239,200±$51kLowest
28% below U.S.
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$266,200±$48kHighest
20% below U.S.
Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,542±$1kHighest
9% above U.S.
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
—
Belvidere and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908Highest
25% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±53.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Belvidere and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
9.4%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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
High school 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.