Compare towns
Williston vs Brattleboro vs Exeter
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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Brattleboro | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
12,122 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Williston 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. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston 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. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% 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 | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Exeter 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.