Compare towns
Dresden vs Exeter vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Dresden | Exeter | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
16,151Highest |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.7±10.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
32.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,125±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$367,400±$55k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,088±$176Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,667 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±70.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Alna 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 | RSU 02 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.