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.
| Measure | Putney | Exeter | Arkwright | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| 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.


