What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	North Reading	Exeter
People
Population	15,765Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	North Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 211% above U.S.	$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Reading and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Reading and Exeter 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	#33 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	North Reading	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	North Reading High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.1Highest
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.