What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Farmington has the most affordable homes ($289k 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	Farmington
People
Population	16,151Highest	6,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH	49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH
	Farmington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2%	16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Exeter and Farmington 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%	18.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Exeter and Farmington 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 NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH	$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH	$289,200±$47kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH	$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 32% above NH	$4,723Lowest 29% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±16Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Exeter and Farmington 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%	11.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%	14.5%±5.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Exeter and Farmington 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	#106 of 120 in NH
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Farmington School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Farmington Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.