Compare towns
Hartford vs Exeter vs Brattleboro 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
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.
| Measure | Hartford | Exeter | Brattleboro | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
16,151Highest |
12,122 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brattleboro 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 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 | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 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 | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hartford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Exeter High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
12.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.