Compare towns
Concord vs Dover vs Exeter vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Concord | Dover | Exeter | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
33,364 |
16,151Lowest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
12.7 |
12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.