What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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	Charlton	Exeter
People
Population	13,435Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Lowest 11% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Charlton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	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.