What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).

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	Smithfield
People
Population	1,093Highest	856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-10.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME	55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME
	Smithfield 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%	10%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Smithfield 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%	29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Smithfield 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%	34.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Smithfield 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	$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME
	Smithfield 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	$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME	$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average
	Smithfield 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	$2,866Highest 6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Smithfield 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%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 43% above ME	33 minLowest 32% above ME
Work from home	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Smithfield 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.