Compare towns
Exeter vs Groton 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
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
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 | Exeter | Groton | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913 |
967Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% 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 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3Lowest 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+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kLowest 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 | $867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
$3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Groton 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.