Compare towns
Exeter vs Williston vs Portsmouth
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 affordable homes ($457k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Williston | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
10,144Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 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±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.