Compare towns
Dover vs Wilder vs Exeter vs Lebanon
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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Wilder | Exeter | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,087Lowest |
16,151 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #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 | 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.