Compare towns

Putnam vs Salisbury 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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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.

MeasurePutnamSalisburyExeter
People
Population
540Lowest
1,200Highest
913
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Lowest
30% 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%
16.6%±3.2Lowest
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%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam and Salisbury 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%
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Salisbury 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.
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above U.S.
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$306,900±$51kHighest
8% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
Salisbury and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
Salisbury 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.
$4,842Highest
55% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salisbury 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%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
19% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
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
School district PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
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.