Compare towns
Putnam vs Braintree vs Exeter vs Ossian
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).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ossian has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Braintree | Exeter | Ossian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,026Highest |
913 |
689 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
52.3±13.9 34% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Putnam 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Ossian 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% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Braintree 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% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Ossian 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 14% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$71,738±$6kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$172,700±$43kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
$867±$302Highest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,366Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree and Ossian 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | — |
| High school in town | None 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.