What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

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	Freeport
People
Population	16,151Highest	8,802Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.
	Freeport 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%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport 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%	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Freeport 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.	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Freeport 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.	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.
	Freeport 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.	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Exeter 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%	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	RSU 05
High school in town	Exeter High School	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	12.2Highest
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.