Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Wallingford vs Plainfield
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k 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 | Putnam | Wallingford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
540Lowest |
2,286Highest |
1,016 |
| 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% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| 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±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% 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±$44 39% below U.S. |
— | $891±$95Highest 37% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% 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 | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,355Highest 40% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Wallingford 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest 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% |
87.6% 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. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above 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% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 | 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.