Compare towns
Addison vs Exeter vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Addison | Exeter | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175 |
16,151Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Addison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 87% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.