Compare towns
Dalton vs Exeter vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Dalton | Exeter | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561 14% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.