Compare towns
Wilder vs Exeter vs Eliot vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Wilder | Exeter | Eliot | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,146 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.