Compare towns
Waterville vs Exeter vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Waterville | Exeter | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
913 |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$948±$45 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,310 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Johnson 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 | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.