What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).

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	Dalton
People
Population	16,151Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S.
	Dalton and Exeter 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%	20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.	$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Exeter High School	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.9Lowest
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.