Compare towns
Putnam vs Athens vs Stratton vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Putnam | Athens | Stratton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540 |
431Lowest |
532 |
913Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% 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 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 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+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athens and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Exeter 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 | 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.