Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
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 (23.2%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
16,151Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.