Compare towns
Putnam vs Fairlee 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 highest household income ($92k).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Fairlee | Benson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,066Highest |
784 |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Fairlee 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% |
46.5%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% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Fairlee 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. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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. |
$274,200±$39kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
| Fairlee and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Benson and Fairlee 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. |
$5,617Highest 80% 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% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Benson 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% |
14.7%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% |
80.9%Lowest 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. |
1972 8 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. |
24 min 8% below 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% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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.