What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has the most kids (19.4% under 18).

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	Freeport	Exeter
People
Population	8,802Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Freeport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Freeport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Freeport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 05	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Freeport High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.