What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).

Ashland has the most kids (14.3% under 18).

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	Exeter	Ashland
People
Population	1,093Highest	1,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-7.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME	53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME
	Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	14.3%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME	$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME	$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME
	Exeter and Ashland 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	$1,602Highest 47% below ME	$1,511Lowest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4%	25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Exeter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Ashland 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.