What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).

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	Salisbury	Exeter
People
Population	5,656Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kLowest 15% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Lowest 25% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	—	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
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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.