Compare towns

Exeter vs Jackson vs Williston

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 most renters (30.9% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureExeterJacksonWilliston
People
Population
16,151Highest
897Lowest
10,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+26%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
60.5±2.5Highest
56% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
4.1%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Exeter 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%
28.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson 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%
67.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
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.
$117,986±$46kHighest
46% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
Jackson and Exeter 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.
$719,300±$109kHighest
116% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,750±$1kLowest
24% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
Exeter and Williston 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.
$6,001
92% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
21.1%±59.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Williston 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%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.2%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Jackson 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 — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Jackson School District 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 History 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.