Compare towns
Putnam vs Williston vs Orwell 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 oldest population (median age 53.6).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Williston | Orwell | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 540Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,294 |
913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% 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%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
| Williston and Putnam 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674 18% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.