Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Wilmington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
59.1±4.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±4Lowest 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+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.6%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilmington and Dover 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% |
46.8%Lowest 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% |
1.7%±2.2Lowest 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,000±$23k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$287,700±$16kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,106±$95 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±6Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.