What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Putnam	Exeter
People
Population	540Lowest	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	51.7±12.6Lowest 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%±5.2Lowest 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%	26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	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%Highest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Putnam and Exeter 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	$77,550±$19kLowest 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	$243,000±$89kLowest 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	$2,926Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100 NY: 52.1%	0%±100 NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 34% below NY	29 minHighest 12% below NY
Work from home	8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Putnam 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 Our Story	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.