Compare towns
Derby vs Exeter vs Hartland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hartland has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Derby | Exeter | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,537 |
16,151Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hartland and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartland and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,136±$23k 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$348,600±$39k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,437 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 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 | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Hartland 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 12 photos → |
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.