Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hampton Falls vs Exeter vs Marlow
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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Dorchester | Hampton Falls | Exeter | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
2,328 |
16,151Highest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
| Dorchester and Marlow 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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 | — | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.