Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Hartford 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Eliot | Exeter | Hartford | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,736 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 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 | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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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.