Compare towns
Waltham vs Exeter vs Addison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Waltham | Exeter | Addison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Addison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,831 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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 | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.