Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Exeter vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Essex Junction | Exeter | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Lowest |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Essex Junction 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Exeter High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.