What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).

Chester has the most kids (23.4% 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	Chester
People
Population	1,093Highest	598Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME	44±10Lowest about the ME average
	Exeter and Chester 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%	23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%	18.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Chester 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	$64,500±$8kLowest 14% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME	$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME
	Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME	$833±$51Lowest 27% below ME
	Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,602Highest 47% below ME	$1,378Lowest 55% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Exeter and Chester 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%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	33 minLowest 34% above ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Chester 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.