Compare towns
Berwick vs Dover vs Exeter vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k 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.
| Measure | Berwick | Dover | Exeter | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
33,364Highest |
16,151 |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Dover 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.