Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Weston
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 people working from home (34.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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 | Dover | Exeter | Newfields | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Weston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weston and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Weston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% above U.S. |
| Dover and Weston 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 | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Weston 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 | — | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Exeter High School | None in town | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 10.9 |
| 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.