What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).

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	Lancaster	Exeter
People
Population	10,113Highest	913Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.1±4.7Lowest 13% above NY	51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY
	Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5Highest NY: 7%	1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,148±$7kLowest 23% below NY	$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY
	Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$16kLowest 52% below NY	$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY
	Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169Highest 40% below NY	$867±$44Lowest 47% below NY
	Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Highest 25% below NY	$2,926Lowest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest NY: 14%	4.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	97.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 42% below NY	29 minHighest 12% below NY
Work from home	7%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.