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 (22.7% under 18).
Wilmington has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
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 | 1,466 |
913Lowest |
1,747Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Lowest 33% 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest 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% |
26.9%±10.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Wilmington 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. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,000±$23k 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$287,700±$16k 14% below U.S. |
| Dover and Wilmington 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. |
$1,106±$95Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$5,299Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilmington and Dover 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 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 | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.