Compare towns
Williston vs Cavendish 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%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Cavendish | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,242Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Cavendish 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% |
39.3%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% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above 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. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% 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. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% 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. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.