What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	Brunswick	Exeter
People
Population	22,336Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brunswick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Lowest 4% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Brunswick 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	#30 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.