Compare towns

Exeter vs Putnam vs Sandgate vs Thurman

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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Thurman has the most renters (7.9% rent).

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.

MeasureExeterPutnamSandgateThurman
People
Population
913
540
435Lowest
977Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6Lowest
33% above U.S.
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
52.7±3.8
35% above U.S.
Sandgate and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±4
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%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Thurman 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%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Sandgate 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.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$69,167±$19k
14% below U.S.
$58,750±$14kLowest
27% 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.
$266,200±$48kHighest
20% below U.S.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
$197,400±$43k
41% 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±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
— —
$2,175±$599Highest
54% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926
6% below U.S.
$3,674Highest
18% above U.S.
$2,778
11% below U.S.
$2,368Lowest
24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.1%±77.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thurman 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%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
33 minHighest
24% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Thurman 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 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.