Compare towns
Putney vs Epping vs Exeter vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Epping has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Putney | Epping | Exeter | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
7,430 |
16,151Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Exeter High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.