Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Orange vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Washington | Exeter | Orange | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
913Lowest |
957 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | — | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.