Compare towns

Exeter vs Mansfield 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 kids (22.7% under 18).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($200k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasureExeterMansfieldWilliston
People
Population
913
691Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
54±5.5Highest
39% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
Mansfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$83,304±$14k
3% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
Williston and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$200,000±$29kLowest
40% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
—
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$4,122
32% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±12.1Lowest
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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district — — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.