What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).

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	Pembroke	Exeter
People
Population	18,382Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Lowest 17% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,285±$17kHighest 81% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kHighest 76% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Pembroke and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,585Lowest 111% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Pembroke	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Pembroke High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	12.1Lowest
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.