Compare towns
Wilder vs Exeter vs Hartford vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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 | Wilder | Exeter | Hartford | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
16,151Highest |
10,736 |
2,752Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1 13% 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 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest 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+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$103,938±$24k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Royalton 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Hartford High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.6 |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.