What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lakeville has the most expensive homes ($566k 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	Lakeville	Exeter
People
Population	11,944Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±1.9Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lakeville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lakeville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kHighest 66% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest 70% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Lakeville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,536Lowest 77% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%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	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Lakeville 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	#96 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	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.