Compare towns
Hartford vs Brookline vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Hartford | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
5,736Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.