What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Jackson
People
Population	1,093Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
Kids under 18	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Jackson 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%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Jackson 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	$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average
	Exeter and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME	$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME
	Exeter and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Exeter and Jackson 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%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	35 minLowest 41% above ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson 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.