What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).

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	Northfield	Exeter
People
Population	2,872Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 26% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Northfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kLowest 28% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Pioneer Valley	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	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.