Compare towns
Waltham vs Exeter vs New Haven
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).
New Haven has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48±3.9 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Haven 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,321±$17kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waltham 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. |
$379,300±$19k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,163±$143 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,967 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.1%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Waltham 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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 |
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.