Compare towns
Wilton vs Exeter vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the most homeowners (77%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Wilton | Exeter | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960 |
16,151Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Wilton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 7% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612 14% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Wilton 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.