Compare towns
Exeter vs Hardwick vs Wolcott
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).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,965 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott and Exeter 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
31.1%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% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wolcott 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. |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below 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. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
$3,930Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Exeter 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% |
79.5%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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District |
| 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.