What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Great Barrington
People
Population	16,151Highest	7,202Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	49.7±4.2Highest 28% above U.S.
	Great Barrington 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 U.S.: 22%	14.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Great Barrington 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%	28.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Great Barrington 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	49.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.	$84,132±$11kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.	$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S.
	Great Barrington 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.	$1,314±$239Lowest 7% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$5,935Lowest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Great Barrington 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Great Barrington 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	#139 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Berkshire Hills
High school in town	Exeter High School	Monument Mt Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.2Lowest
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.