Compare towns
Exeter vs Putnam vs Wilbraham
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 (17.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
9,292 |
14,572Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilbraham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Wilbraham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wilbraham 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Putnam School District | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.