Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Wallingford
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%).
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Putnam | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913 |
540Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Lowest 18% 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% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest 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% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Wallingford 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. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Wallingford 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. |
— | $891±$95Highest 37% below U.S. |
| Wallingford 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,355Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wallingford 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.