Compare towns
Putnam vs Strafford vs Mansfield
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Strafford | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,372Highest |
691 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Putnam 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mansfield 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$83,304±$14kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,122 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±12.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.