What stands out worked out from the figures below

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).

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	Methuen	Exeter
People
Population	53,475Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Methuen and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Methuen and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Methuen and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#236 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Methuen	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Methuen High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.