What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).

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	Orleans	Exeter
People
Population	809Lowest	913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orleans and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,159±$10kLowest 29% below U.S.	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S.	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S.	$867±$44Highest 39% below U.S.
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,019Highest 3% below U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orleans and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.