Compare towns
White River Junction vs Exeter vs St. Albans vs Wilder
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 youngest population (median age 33.7).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Exeter | St. Albans | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
16,151Highest |
6,954 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder 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% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans 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% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest 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% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,150±$78 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and St. Albans 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% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.