What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most kids (20.6% 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	Dudley	Exeter
People
Population	11,929Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	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.