What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).

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	Wells River	Exeter
People
Population	340Lowest	913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-14.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±12.7Lowest 10% above U.S.	51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S.
	Exeter and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Exeter and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S.	$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S.	$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Exeter and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$336Highest 36% below U.S.	$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Wells River and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,154Highest 33% above U.S.	$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells River and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Wells River 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.