Compare towns
Kensington vs Williston 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
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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 | Kensington | Williston | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
10,144 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest 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 | $165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% 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 | $9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.