Compare towns
Dorchester vs Exeter vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Dorchester | Exeter | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Dorchester 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.