Compare towns
Exeter vs Dorset vs Shelburne
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 50.9).
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 | Dorset | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,092Lowest |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
50.9±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Shelburne 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$115,963±$16kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$588,100±$44kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,442±$589 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,173 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shelburne and Dorset 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.