What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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	Hanson	Exeter
People
Population	10,660Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Hanson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	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.