Compare towns
Derry vs Dunbarton vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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.
| Measure | Derry | Dunbarton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
3,097Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.