What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k 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	Framingham
People
Population	16,151Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.	37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Framingham 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.	$107,419±$6kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.	$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.	$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S.
	Framingham and Exeter 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.	$6,884Lowest 121% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Framingham 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%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Framingham 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	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Exeter High School	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	12.7Highest
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.