What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

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	Rome
People
Population	1,093Lowest	1,215Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME	48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME
	Exeter and Rome 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%	21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Rome 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%	39.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Rome 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	$77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME
	Exeter and Rome 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	$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME	$1,150±$56Highest about the ME average
	Rome and Exeter 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	$1,829Highest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Rome 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%	10.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	91.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	30 minLowest 21% above ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Rome 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.