What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (13.2% under 18).

Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).

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	Lowell	Exeter
People
Population	378Lowest	1,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-11.8% ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME	52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME
	Lowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Lowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest ME: 36.2%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
	Lowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$995±$386 13% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,478Lowest 51% below ME	$1,602Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lowell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Lowest 13 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 24% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lowell and Exeter 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

ME 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.