Compare towns

Exeter vs Waitsfield vs Brentwood

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%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).

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.

MeasureExeterWaitsfieldBrentwood
People
Population
16,151Highest
1,918Lowest
4,641
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
43.8±3.1Lowest
13% above U.S.
Exeter and Waitsfield 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%
23.8%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Waitsfield and Brentwood 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%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield 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%
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Waitsfield 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.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
$165,509±$23kHighest
105% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$422,400±$92kLowest
27% above U.S.
$528,100±$75kHighest
59% above U.S.
Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
$2,217±$654Highest
57% above U.S.
Brentwood 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.
$6,208Lowest
99% above U.S.
$9,713Highest
211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.9%±37.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brentwood 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%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1995Highest
15 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brentwood 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 — #16 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Brentwood School District
High school in town Exeter High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 59 photos → None yet 6 photos →

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.