Compare towns
Stowe 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
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Williston has the youngest population (median age 45.4).
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 | Stowe | Williston | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Lowest |
10,144 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | $93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% 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 | $647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% 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 | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest 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 | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 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 | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Williston 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 | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.