What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).

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	Thompson	Exeter
People
Population	9,337Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+12.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Thompson School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	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.