Compare towns
Brooks vs Exeter vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Brooks | Exeter | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
16,151Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brooks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Waldo 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| 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.