Compare towns
Brookline vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Brookline | Exeter | Ripton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
16,151Highest |
508Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.