Compare towns
Dorset vs Exeter vs Hartford
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 people working from home (29.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dorset 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.