What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has the most expensive homes ($636k 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	York	Exeter
People
Population	13,986Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	York and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	York and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	York and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kHighest 50% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	York and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
	Exeter and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	York 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	York Public Schools	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	York High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.