Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Hampstead
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 most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter 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. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.