Compare towns
Williston vs Bennington vs Exeter vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).
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 | Williston | Bennington | Exeter | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
15,249 |
16,151Highest |
4,159Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.