Compare towns
Putnam vs Orange 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).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Orange | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
7,573Highest |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Orange 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Orange 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Putnam 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.