Compare towns
Cambridge vs Exeter vs Putney vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most kids (23% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Cambridge | Exeter | Putney | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
16,151Highest |
2,622Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 3% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 57% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Putney 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.