What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

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	Wayne
People
Population	913Lowest	1,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.7±12.6Lowest 30% above NY	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY
	Wayne 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 NY: 20.5%	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wayne 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 NY: 40.2%	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9 NY: 7%	1%±0.8 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,550±$19kLowest 10% below NY	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY
	Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kLowest 43% below NY	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY
	Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY
	Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Lowest 56% below NY	$3,967Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayne 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 NY: 14%	6.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	95.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 12% below NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Wayne 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

NY 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.