What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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	Wells
People
Population	913Highest	671Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.7±12.6Lowest 30% above NY	59.8±3.5Highest 50% above NY
	Wells 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%	14.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	28.9%±7.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wells 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 NY: 40.2%	19.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	2.5%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Wells and Exeter 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 10% below NY	$74,286±$31kLowest 14% below NY
	Exeter and Wells 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	$268,600±$45kHighest 37% below NY
	Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$44 47% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,926Highest 56% below NY	$2,588Lowest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	30%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wells 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%	4.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 12% below NY	43 minHighest 32% above NY
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%	3.6%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Wells 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.