What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

Bernardston has the most affordable homes ($332k median).

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	Bernardston
People
Population	7,195Highest	2,164Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S.	49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bernardston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S.	$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	Exeter and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S.	$332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Exeter and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,881Highest 89% above U.S.	$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 15% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 38 in RI	—
School district	Exeter-West Greenwich	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.