What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

York has the most expensive homes ($636k 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	York
People
Population	16,151Highest	13,986Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.
	York and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	York and Exeter 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%	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	York 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%	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.	$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S.
	York and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.	$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Exeter and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and York 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%	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	York 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	#13 of 133 in ME
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	York Public Schools
High school in town	Exeter High School	York High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.