What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clifton has the most kids (16% 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	Clifton	Exeter
People
Population	1,111Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME	52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME
	Clifton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Clifton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Clifton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,313±$16kLowest 6% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,500±$67kHighest 32% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
	Clifton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME
	Clifton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,838Highest 39% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Clifton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%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	29 minLowest 19% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Clifton 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.