What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).

Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).

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	Canton	Exeter
People
Population	1,191Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Canton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME	$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME
	Exeter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,277Highest 25% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Canton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 42% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Canton 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

ME 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.