Compare towns

Williston vs Exeter vs Newfields 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

Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.

MeasureWillistonExeterNewfieldsHartford
People
Population
10,144
16,151Highest
2,023Lowest
10,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
43.2±3.9Lowest
11% 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%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Newfields 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%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Hartford 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%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Exeter 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.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
Newfields and Exeter 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.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1991
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 #22 of 120 in NH — #34 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Newfields School District Hartford School District
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 6 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.