Compare towns
Exeter vs Middlesex vs Montpelier
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 ($243k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,943 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montpelier and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.