What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most kids (18.1% 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	Springfield
People
Population	1,093Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME	52.4±7Lowest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Springfield 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%	18.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%	21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Springfield 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%	17.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Springfield 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	$60,833±$23kLowest 19% below ME
	Exeter and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME	$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME
	Exeter and Springfield 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	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 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%	9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Springfield 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.