Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Orwell 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
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Benson | Exeter | Orwell | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
16,151Highest |
1,294 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 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+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Benson 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.