What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Gardner	Exeter
People
Population	21,148Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gardner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Gardner	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Gardner High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.