Compare towns
Williston vs Hampton vs Exeter vs Waterbury
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%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Hampton | Exeter | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,101 |
16,151Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Williston 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. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.