What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).

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	Litchfield
People
Population	16,151Highest	8,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH	43.1±1.7Lowest about the NH average
	Exeter and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Litchfield 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 NH: 20.1%	14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Exeter and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH	$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH	$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH
	Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH	$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH
	Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 32% above NH	$8,273Lowest 24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Litchfield 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	#53 of 120 in NH
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Litchfield School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Campbell High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.4Lowest
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.