Compare towns
Hartford vs Waitsfield 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).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Waitsfield | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
1,918Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Waitsfield 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 |
| School district | Hartford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.