Compare towns

Putney vs Exeter vs Arkwright vs Dummerston

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 most renters (27.2% rent).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasurePutneyExeterArkwrightDummerston
People
Population
2,622Highest
913
859Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
50.8±7.2
31% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Exeter and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Dummerston 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%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Dummerston 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%
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$93,000±$26k
15% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
Dummerston and Arkwright 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.
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$170,900±$30kLowest
49% below U.S.
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston 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.
$875±$689
38% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,760
21% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±65.2
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Arkwright 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Putney 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.