What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the highest household income ($174k).

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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	Cumberland	Exeter
People
Population	8,647Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±4Lowest 8% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$173,894±$20kHighest 115% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$616,800±$42kHighest 85% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,143±$759Highest 52% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,116Lowest 128% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.1%±31.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	25.3%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Cumberland and Exeter 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	#25 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 51/MSAD 51	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Greely High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.