What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k 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	Framingham	Exeter
People
Population	72,399Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Framingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,419±$6kLowest 33% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Framingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Lowest 121% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Framingham 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	#229 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Framingham High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.