Compare towns
Exeter vs Fair Haven vs Putnam vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Fair Haven has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Exeter | Fair Haven | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
2,724Highest |
540Lowest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Highest 39% below U.S. |
$830±$116 41% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.