What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	Fair Haven	Exeter
People
Population	2,724Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 70 in VT	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	59 photos →

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.