Compare towns
Dorset vs Dover vs Dummerston vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | Dorset | Dover | Dummerston | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
33,364Highest |
2,090Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dover School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.