Compare towns
Dover vs Exeter vs Thurman vs Marlboro
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 renters (18.9% rent).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Marlboro has the youngest population (median age 22.7).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Thurman | Marlboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
913Lowest |
977 |
1,362 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+59.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8 35% above U.S. |
22.7±2.1Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Dover and Thurman 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Thurman 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Thurman 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
42.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14k 27% below U.S. |
$77,135±$10k 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Marlboro 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 |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$357,300±$55kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Marlboro and Dover 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,600±$824 13% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Marlboro 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. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$5,640Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±43.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlboro and Dover 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±11.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marlboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — | Marlboro School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.