Compare towns

Dummerston vs Exeter vs Williston 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

Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).

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.

MeasureDummerstonExeterWillistonPutney
People
Population
2,090Lowest
16,151Highest
10,144
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below 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%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
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+
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
Exeter and Williston 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±$21k
37% above U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
Williston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
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
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
21% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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 → 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.