What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).

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	Northfield
People
Population	16,151Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Northfield 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%	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Northfield 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield 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%	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Northfield 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.	$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Northfield 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%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	Exeter High School	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.7Lowest
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.