Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Lebanon vs Ogunquit
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 the most kids (17% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lebanon | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
16,151 |
14,999 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Dover 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.1 |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.