Compare towns

Exeter vs Putney vs Windham 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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.

MeasureExeterPutneyWindhamPlainfield
People
Population
913Lowest
2,622Highest
1,432
1,016
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
37.2±5.2
4% below U.S.
56.5±5.1Highest
45% above U.S.
34.5±6.6Lowest
11% below U.S.
Windham 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%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Plainfield 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%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.5%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±5
U.S.: 6.4%
14.9%±11.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Plainfield 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.
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the U.S. average
$76,477±$17k
5% below U.S.
$70,673±$6kLowest
12% below U.S.
Putney 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.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$315,600±$74kHighest
5% below U.S.
$155,100±$17kLowest
53% below U.S.
Windham and Putney 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.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$850±$295
40% below U.S.
$750±$207
47% below U.S.
Exeter and Windham 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.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,363
8% above U.S.
$2,667Lowest
14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
68.9%±35.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.6%±43.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — #32 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 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.