Compare towns
Dorset vs Exeter vs Hanover vs Rupert
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Exeter | Hanover | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
16,151Highest |
8,479 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Dorset 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanover and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.