What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k 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	Charleston	Exeter
People
Population	1,117Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.4±5.9Lowest about the ME average	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	15%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,250±$20kLowest about the ME average	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$226,500±$17kHighest 24% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$988±$870Lowest 13% below ME	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME
	Exeter and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,811Highest 40% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Charleston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 5% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	16.6%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Charleston 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.