Compare towns
Exeter vs Orange vs Putnam vs Conesville
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 people working from home (14.4%).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Conesville has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Orange | Putnam | Conesville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
7,573Highest |
540Lowest |
750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
50±8.1 29% 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Conesville 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$74,000±$14k 8% below 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±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$214,300±$31kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— | $892±$296Highest 37% below U.S. |
| Conesville 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,500 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Conesville and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 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 min 24% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Conesville 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.