What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Burlington has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Burlington	Exeter
People
Population	20,756Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.2±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Burlington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Burlington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kLowest 32% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,400±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,787±$59Lowest 26% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Lowest 114% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and South Burlington 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	#12 of 70 in VT	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	South Burlington School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	South Burlington High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.