Compare towns
Putnam vs Benson vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).
Benson has the most renters (13.3% rent).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Benson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540 |
271Lowest |
913Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
— | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY |
50.7±7.7Lowest 27% above NY |
51.7±12.6 30% above NY |
| 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 NY: 20.5% |
14.4%±9.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest 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+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
34.3%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±5.6 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY |
$69,375±$13kLowest 19% below NY |
$77,550±$19k 10% below NY |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY |
$230,100±$15kLowest 46% below NY |
$243,000±$89k 43% below NY |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $867±$44 47% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Highest 44% below NY |
$2,528Lowest 62% below NY |
$2,926 56% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NY: 14% |
5.2% NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% NY: 54.3% |
86.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 34% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
29 minHighest 12% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.6%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Benson 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.