What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

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	Chester	Exeter
People
Population	598Lowest	1,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44±10Lowest about the ME average	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,500±$8kLowest 14% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
	Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$833±$51Lowest 27% below ME	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,378Lowest 55% below ME	$1,602Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 34% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Chester 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.