Compare towns
Putnam vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Gorham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
18,300Highest |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6 33% 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.