What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).

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	Embden	Exeter
People
Population	995Lowest	1,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME	52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME
	Embden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Embden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
	Embden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$995±$386 13% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Highest 41% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Exeter and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 34% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Embden and Exeter 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.