Compare towns
Exeter vs Essex Junction vs Randolph
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 highest household income ($110k).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Exeter | Essex Junction | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,803 |
4,843Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Randolph 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% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph 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 | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% 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 | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Lowest 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 | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Essex High School | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.7 |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.