Compare towns
Exeter vs Kingston vs Wilder 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 highest household income ($110k).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Kingston | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,275 |
3,087Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±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% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter 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. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Williston 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. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below 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. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sanborn Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.