What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k 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	916Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH	44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average
	Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	5.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH	$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH
	Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH	$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH
	Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 32% above NH	$3,561Lowest 47% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±83.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	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 NH: 7.2%	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below NH	20 minLowest 26% below NH
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%	5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	—
High school in town	Exeter High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	59 photos →	None yet

NH 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.