What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($153k median).

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).

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	Brookfield	Exeter
People
Population	2,150Highest	913Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY	51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY
	Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kLowest 20% below NY	$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY
	Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY	$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY
	Exeter and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Highest 39% below NY	$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY
	Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Highest 51% below NY	$2,926Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brookfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1977Lowest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	29 minLowest 12% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Brookfield 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

NY 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.