Compare towns
Wilder vs Exeter vs White River Junction vs Hartford
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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Hartford has the most kids (18% 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 | Wilder | Exeter | White River Junction | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,364 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% 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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 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 | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.