Compare towns
Putnam vs Putney 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 highest household income ($92k).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Putney | Exeter | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
2,622Highest |
913 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% 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. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Putney 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% |
16%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% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 min 19% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.