Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Calais | Exeter | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
913 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% 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 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Calais and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None 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.