Compare towns
Exeter vs Halifax vs Putnam vs Mansfield
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k median).
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 | Halifax | Putnam | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Highest |
847 |
540Lowest |
691 |
| 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% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Putnam 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5Lowest 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%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield 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. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$83,304±$14k 3% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$200,000±$29kLowest 40% 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. |
$4,122 32% 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% |
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% |
5.8% 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% |
96.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer 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. |
26 min 3% 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% |
12.1%±12.1 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 | 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.