What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).

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	Dracut	Exeter
People
Population	32,574Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dracut and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Dracut and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Dracut and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#201 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Dracut	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Dracut Senior High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	12.1Lowest
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.