Compare towns
Walden vs Exeter vs Hardwick
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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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 | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.1±7.4 21% above U.S. |
| Walden and Hardwick 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27%±5.9Highest 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+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest 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±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,297±$17k 14% above 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 | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$184,700±$39kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±41.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Walden 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Exeter 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.