Compare towns
Putnam vs Walden vs Exeter vs Benson
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Walden | Exeter | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,037Highest |
913 |
784 |
| 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% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Walden 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. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Walden 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. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 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 | — | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Walden 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. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,125Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Benson 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.