Compare towns
Dummerston vs Exeter vs Putnam vs Middlesex
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 renters (7.1% rent).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Dummerston | Exeter | Putnam | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
913 |
540Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Dummerston 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Putnam 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. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Exeter 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.