What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Douglas
People
Population	16,151Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Exeter and Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas 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 U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Douglas 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.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Douglas and Exeter 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.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Exeter and Douglas 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.	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Douglas 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%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas and Exeter 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Douglas
High school in town	Exeter High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.