What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

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	Stratton	Exeter
People
Population	532Lowest	913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-14.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.	$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.	$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.	$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Stratton 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.