Compare towns
Dorset vs Exeter vs Thetford
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%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest 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% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% 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. |
$6,948Lowest 123% 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% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Thetford 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 | 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.