Compare towns
Putney vs Exeter vs Brookline 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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Brookline | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
913 |
531Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston 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% |
20%±6 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% |
19.6%±4.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% 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% |
3.2%±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. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% 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. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Dummerston 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. |
$5,000 60% 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% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Brookline 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% |
6.2% 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% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs 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. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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 | 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.