Compare towns
Putnam vs Barton vs Exeter vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Putnam | Barton | Exeter | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
730 |
913 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% 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 | 17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 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+ | 31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% 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 | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.