Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Stowe 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
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Waitsfield | Stowe | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
5,285 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% 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 | 23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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 | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Stowe Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | 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.