Compare towns
Putnam vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Wayne | Exeter | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,033Highest |
913 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Putnam 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% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest 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±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Wayne 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. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Wayne 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. |
$3,967 27% 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% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Wayne 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% |
6.2% 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% |
95.8% 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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 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. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Exeter 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.