Compare towns
Exeter vs Ossian vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Ossian has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Exeter | Ossian | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Highest |
689 |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Lowest 30% above NY |
52.3±13.9 31% above NY |
53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY |
| Putnam and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±8 NY: 17.9% |
35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Ossian 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 NY: 40.2% |
34.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.5 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Putnam and Ossian 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 10% below NY |
$71,738±$6kLowest 17% below NY |
$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
| 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 43% below NY |
$172,700±$43kLowest 59% below NY |
$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 47% below NY |
$867±$302 47% below NY |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 56% below NY |
$4,366Highest 34% below NY |
$3,674 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Ossian 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 NY: 14% |
10.2%Highest NY: 14% |
7.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.9% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 12% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.4%±6 NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Ossian 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 |
NY 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.