Compare towns

Putnam vs Berlin vs Exeter

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 highest household income ($92k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

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.

MeasurePutnamBerlinExeter
People
Population
540Lowest
2,880Highest
913
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Lowest
30% above U.S.
51.7±12.6
33% 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%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Putnam 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%
26.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5
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%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Berlin 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.
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
Putnam and Berlin 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.
$273,600±$31kHighest
18% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
Berlin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,169±$171Highest
17% below U.S.
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$4,418Highest
42% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Putnam 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%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
19% below U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Berlin 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 — #16 of 70 in VT —
School district PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.