What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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	Searsmont
People
Population	1,093Lowest	1,646Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average
	Exeter and Searsmont 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%	13.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Searsmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Searsmont 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%	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont 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±$12kLowest 13% above ME	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME
	Searsmont and Exeter 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	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME
	Exeter and Searsmont 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	$2,788Highest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 71
High school in town	—	None in town
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.