Compare towns

Exeter vs Waterville vs Jefferson

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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureExeterWatervilleJefferson
People
Population
913
680Lowest
1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Lowest
26% above U.S.
53.9±5.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Jefferson 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%
20.4%±8.2
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Jefferson and Exeter 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%
32.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19kHighest
4% below U.S.
$71,250±$27k
12% below U.S.
$67,083±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$89kHighest
27% below U.S.
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
$186,900±$42kLowest
44% below U.S.
Exeter and Waterville 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.
$1,110±$93Highest
21% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,957Highest
27% above U.S.
$3,602
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jefferson and Waterville 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%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A —
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.