What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).

Fairlee has the most people working from home (23.5%).

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	Fairlee
People
Population	913Highest	54Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.7±12.6Lowest 33% above U.S.	63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S.
	Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%	0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.	$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S.	$277,500±$28kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S.	$1,057±$620Highest 25% below U.S.
	Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.	$3,750Highest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	50%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 min 9% above U.S.	—
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.5%±30.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.