What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($404k 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	Salem
People
Population	7,195Highest	4,282Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S.	40.9±5.4Highest 5% above U.S.
	Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salem and Exeter 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%	19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$30kLowest 38% above U.S.	$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S.
	Salem and Exeter 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.	$403,600±$33kLowest 21% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,317±$307Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,881Lowest 89% above U.S.	$6,668Highest 114% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 15% below U.S.	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Exeter 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	#11 of 149 in CT
School district	Exeter-West Greenwich	Salem School District
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.