What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Westminster
People
Population	16,151Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Westminster 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.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Westminster 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%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	59 photos →	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.