What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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	Wakefield	Exeter
People
Population	27,793Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield 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	#179 of 282 in MA	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	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.