Compare towns
Williston vs Wilder 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 the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,087Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Exeter 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.