What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).

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	Hanover	Exeter
People
Population	14,845Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.	$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Hanover 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	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.