What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most kids (13.2% 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	Lowell
People
Population	1,093Highest	378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME	55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME
	Lowell 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%	13.2%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lowell 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%	31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Lowell 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	30%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Lowell 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	$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME
	Exeter and Lowell 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	$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME
	Lowell 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	$1,602Highest 47% below ME	$1,478Lowest 51% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lowell and Exeter 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%	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1990Lowest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	31 minLowest 24% above ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Lowell 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.