What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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	Peabody	Exeter
People
Population	54,695Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±2.4Lowest 16% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peabody and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,657±$4kLowest 20% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Peabody and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#228 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Peabody	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Peabody Veterans Memorial High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	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.