Compare towns
Putnam vs Windham vs Exeter vs Ossian
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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ossian has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Ossian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
594 |
913Highest |
689 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.3±13.9 34% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Ossian 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ossian 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Ossian 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. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$71,738±$6kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$172,700±$43kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$867±$302 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,366 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossian and Windham 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.