What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).

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 River
People
Population	913Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.	42.7±12.7Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Exeter and Wells River 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%	17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Wells River 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%	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Wells River 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.	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.	$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S.
	Exeter and Wells River 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.	$900±$336Highest 36% below U.S.
	Wells River 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.	$4,154Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells River 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%	38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Wells River 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.