What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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	Charlton
People
Population	16,151Highest	13,435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.	43±4Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Charlton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.	$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Charlton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$427,500±$19kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,381±$415Lowest about the U.S. average
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 120 in NH	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Exeter High School	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	59 photos →	None yet

U.S. 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.