Compare towns
Putnam vs Springfield 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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 | Springfield | Benson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,122Highest |
784 |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%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% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Putnam 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. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Benson and Springfield 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% 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% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Springfield 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% 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. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.