Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Ware 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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Ware | Thurman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
540Lowest |
10,048Highest |
977 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8 35% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Thurman 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% 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±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ware and Putnam 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. |
— | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thurman 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% |
11.8% 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% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 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. |
28 min 8% 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% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thurman and Exeter 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.