Compare towns
Putnam vs Highgate 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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.
| Measure | Putnam | Highgate | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
3,528Highest |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam and Highgate 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. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Highgate 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. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Highest 37% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Highgate 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.