What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quincy has the most expensive homes ($619k median).

Exeter has the most homeowners (69.1%).

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	Quincy	Exeter
People
Population	102,114Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±0.8Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Quincy and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,882±$5kLowest 22% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$618,500±$14kHighest 86% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,118±$59Highest 50% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Quincy and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,381Lowest 105% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	45.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Quincy 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	#147 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Quincy	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	North Quincy High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5Highest	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.