What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has the most kids (23.4% 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	Cumberland	Exeter
People
Population	36,820Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 12% 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	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,522±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Lowest 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	3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Cumberland 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	#18 of 38 in RI	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.1Lowest
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.