Compare towns

Exeter vs Halifax 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 affordable homes ($243k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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.

MeasureExeterHalifaxPutnam
People
Population
913Highest
847
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
40.6±13.1Lowest
4% 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%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
25.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Halifax and Exeter 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%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
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%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Halifax 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.
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% 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.
$267,500±$21kHighest
20% below U.S.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
Halifax and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$875±$154Highest
38% below U.S.
—
Halifax and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$4,991Highest
60% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±73.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
29.9%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Halifax and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Halifax School District 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.