What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most affordable homes ($243k 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	Richmond	Exeter
People
Population	3,566Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±3.8Lowest 5% below U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Richmond and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,854±$10kLowest 18% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,700±$27kLowest 27% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,077±$166Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,143Lowest about the U.S. average	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47%±23.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Richmond 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	—	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Richmond Public Schools	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Richmond High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	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.