Pros and Cons of Living in Exeter
Exeter's honest tradeoff is real, genuine access to Phillips Exeter Academy's prestige and a historic, low-crime downtown, set against a real, disclosed genuinely expensive housing market and above-national property tax rate.
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Learn moreReal advantages
Exeter offers real, genuine Phillips Exeter Academy access (including a significant financial-aid program), genuinely low crime (~73% below the national average), a walkable historic downtown, and a genuinely low unemployment rate (~2.2%).
Real tradeoffs
Exeter's housing costs run genuinely, substantially above the national median ($540,000-$724,950), and its effective property tax rate (~1.88%) runs above the national median. Public-school performance data specific to Exeter High School was not confirmed this pass.
The net read
For families connected to Phillips Exeter Academy or drawn to its financial-aid program, and for those prioritizing genuine safety and historic character, the advantages are real. For affordability-focused movers, Exeter runs genuinely expensive.
Key takeaways
- Real pros: Phillips Exeter Academy access (with real financial aid), genuinely low crime, and a walkable historic downtown.
- Real cons: a genuinely expensive housing market and an above-national property tax rate.
- The net read favors families connected to the Academy and safety-focused movers over affordability-focused ones.
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