Compare towns
Exeter vs Walden vs Jefferson
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 the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($187k 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 | Walden | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 913Lowest |
1,037 |
1,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Walden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Walden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.