Compare towns

Essex Junction vs Exeter vs Newfields

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 the shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

MeasureEssex JunctionExeterNewfields
People
Population
10,803
16,151Highest
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Essex Junction and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
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%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,257±$16kLowest
11% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,500±$20kLowest
22% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,544±$135Lowest
9% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
Newfields and Exeter 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.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
16.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 #14 of 70 in VT #22 of 120 in NH —
School district Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Newfields School District
High school in town Essex High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Lowest
12.1Highest
—
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.