Compare towns
Athens 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
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Athens | Exeter | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.