Compare towns
Walden vs Exeter vs Cabot vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Walden | Exeter | Cabot | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
16,151Highest |
1,579 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.3±6.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest 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 | $88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,031±$16k 5% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$268,500±$77k 19% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,243±$354 12% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,639 49% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±26.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.