Compare towns
Putnam vs Calais vs Benson 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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Calais | Benson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,713Highest |
784 |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Calais 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais 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±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Calais 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. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Calais and Benson 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.