Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Wayne
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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913 |
540Lowest |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-6.9% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Lowest 30% above NY |
53.6±6.4 35% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
| Wayne 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 NY: 20.5% |
17.4%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
35.6%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Wayne and Putnam 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% |
31.4% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
| Putnam and Exeter 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 10% below NY |
$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
$90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
| Putnam and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 43% below NY |
$266,200±$48k 37% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
| Wayne and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 47% below NY |
— | $1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 56% below NY |
$3,674 44% below NY |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Wayne 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% |
7.2%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 12% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Wayne 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.