What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Exeter
People
Population	431Lowest	913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-14.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S.	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S.	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S.	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S.	$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 74% above U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.