Compare towns

Dummerston vs Exeter vs Bennington

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k 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.

MeasureDummerstonExeterBennington
People
Population
2,090Lowest
16,151Highest
15,249
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
44.7±2.3Lowest
15% 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
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bennington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below 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
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,133±$63Lowest
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
21% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 #58 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town None in town Exeter High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 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.