Compare towns
Waltham vs Exeter vs Panton
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 renters (30.9% rent).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
16,151Highest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.7±3.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Panton 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%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% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% 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. |
$438,000±$40k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,410±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,695 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Panton and Exeter 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Panton and Waltham 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.