What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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	Hartford
People
Population	16,151Highest	10,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hartford 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%	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hartford 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%	22.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Hartford 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%	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Hartford 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.	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Hartford 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%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979 1 yr older than U.S.	1979 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.6Lowest
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.