Compare towns
White River Junction vs Exeter vs Eliot vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Exeter | Eliot | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
16,151Highest |
7,146 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.