Compare towns
Loudon vs Exeter vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Loudon | Exeter | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692 |
16,151Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Exeter and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Wakefield 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.