What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Proctor	Exeter
People
Population	1,586Highest	913Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-14.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S.	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Proctor and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,060±$12kLowest 7% below U.S.	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,000±$20kLowest 38% below U.S.	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$200Highest 25% below U.S.	$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Proctor and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.4%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Proctor and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%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	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	10%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Proctor 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.