Compare towns

Calais vs Exeter vs Putney vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureCalaisExeterPutneyDummerston
People
Population
1,713Lowest
16,151Highest
2,622
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42±8.6
8% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586
111% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
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
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Calais 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None 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 → 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.