What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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	Northbridge	Exeter
People
Population	16,458Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Northbridge 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	70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Northbridge	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Northbridge High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.