Compare towns
Putnam vs Exeter vs Ossian
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Exeter | Ossian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
913Highest |
689 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY |
51.7±12.6Lowest 30% above NY |
52.3±13.9 31% above NY |
| Putnam and Ossian 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% |
18.3%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| 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 NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.8%±8 NY: 17.9% |
| Putnam and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| 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 7% above NY |
$77,550±$19k 10% below NY |
$71,738±$6kLowest 17% 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±$89k 43% below NY |
$172,700±$43kLowest 59% 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 |
$867±$302 47% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 44% below NY |
$2,926Lowest 56% below NY |
$4,366Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Ossian and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 34% below NY |
29 min 12% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.4%±6 NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Ossian 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.