Compare towns
Castleton vs Exeter vs Putney vs Hyde Park
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Castleton | Exeter | Putney | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
16,151Highest |
2,622Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.6±3.9 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hyde Park and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1 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+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$9k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,007±$340 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,883 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.8 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.