What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Exeter has the most affordable 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	Brookline	Exeter
People
Population	531Lowest	913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S.	$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.	$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline and Exeter 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.