Compare towns
Putnam vs Wilder 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 highest household income ($92k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
3,087Highest |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter 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. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Putnam 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.