Compare towns
Exeter vs Hardwick vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
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 | Exeter | Hardwick | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,965 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.