Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Benson | Exeter | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
913Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
51.7±12.6 30% above NY |
53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.4%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.2% NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$77,550±$19k 10% below NY |
$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15kLowest 46% below NY |
$243,000±$89k 43% below NY |
$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$44 47% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,926 56% below NY |
$3,674Highest 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 20% below NY |
29 minHighest 12% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Benson 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.