Compare towns
Putnam vs Exeter vs Strafford
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
913 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Putnam 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Exeter 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.