What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+28.2%).

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	Mexico	Exeter
People
Population	2,142Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+28.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
	Exeter and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	22.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	15%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mexico and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,972±$7kLowest 32% below ME	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$108,700±$11kLowest 63% below ME	$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$972±$310Lowest 15% below ME	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME
	Exeter and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,944Highest 36% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.5%±20Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mexico and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 22 yrs older than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Exeter and Mexico 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	#130 of 133 in ME	—
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.