Compare towns
Williston vs Windham 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 the most people working from home (22.3%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
16,038 |
16,151Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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%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% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.