Compare towns
Exeter vs Pembroke vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pembroke has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k 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 | Exeter | Pembroke | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,438 |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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 NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Walpole 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 11% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pembroke School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.