Compare towns
Dorset vs Dover vs Exeter vs Lebanon
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 kids (24% under 18).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Exeter | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,151 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| 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%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dorset 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% 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% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.1 |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.