What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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	Norwell
People
Population	16,151Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.	39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Norwell 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 37% above U.S.	$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.	$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.	$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S.
	Norwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwell 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 U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Norwell
High school in town	Exeter High School	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	11.7Lowest
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.