What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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	Bridgewater	Exeter
People
Population	980Highest	913Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S.	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S.	$867±$44Highest 39% below U.S.
	Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Highest 10% above U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.