What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).

Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).

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	Stoneham
People
Population	16,151Highest	271Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	60.6±7.1Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	5.9%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	41%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham 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%	37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.8%±13.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoneham and Exeter 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.	$63,750±$27kLowest 21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.	$226,200±$32kLowest 32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,125±$383Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$1,426Lowest 54% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoneham 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%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	40.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	—
High school in town	Exeter High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
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.