Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Kennebunk vs Concord
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 youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kennebunk | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
16,151 |
11,820Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 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 | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 21 | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | Kennebunk High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.1 |
11.6Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.