Compare towns
Williston vs Newfields vs Exeter 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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.
| Measure | Williston | Newfields | Exeter | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
2,023Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.