Compare towns
Exeter vs Brattleboro vs Williston vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Exeter | Brattleboro | Williston | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
12,122 |
10,144Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% 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 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 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 | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.0Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.