What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	North Bennington
People
Population	913Lowest	1,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.	43.9±10Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Exeter and North Bennington 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%	10.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Bennington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	21.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.	$68,571±$10kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Exeter and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S.	$313,000±$40kHighest 6% below U.S.
	North Bennington 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.	$1,447±$278Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.	$5,590Highest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.7%±26.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Bennington 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%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.3%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Bennington 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.