What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).

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	Needham	Exeter
People
Population	32,459Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 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	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	—	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
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.