Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Dover vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Carlisle has the most people working from home (38.5%).
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 | Dover | Exeter | Dover | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,930 |
5,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.