Compare towns
Wilder vs Keene vs Exeter vs White River Junction
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Keene | Exeter | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
22,939Highest |
16,151 |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder 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% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Exeter 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 37% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.