Compare towns
Dublin vs Exeter vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Marlborough has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Dublin | Exeter | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
| Dublin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
| Exeter and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
| Exeter and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,362Lowest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dublin 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marlborough School District |
| 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 Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.