Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Canterbury vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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 | Canterbury | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
16,151 |
2,353Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Shaker Regional School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.