What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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	Gardiner	Exeter
People
Population	6,088Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42±3.6Lowest 8% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$191Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Gardiner 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	#36 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 11/MSAD 11	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Gardiner Area High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	12.1Highest
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.