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 (-2.2%).
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 | Orange | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
957Highest |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Lowest 29% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 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. |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% 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. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.