Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Brattleboro | Exeter | Stratham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
16,151Highest |
7,754Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Williston 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.