What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	16,151Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Exeter and Thompson 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.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Thompson 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	7.9Lowest
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.