Compare towns

Dublin vs Exeter vs Peterborough

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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).

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.

MeasureDublinExeterPeterborough
People
Population
1,688Lowest
16,151Highest
6,408
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
49.3±8.4
14% above NH
45.8±2.3Lowest
6% above NH
52.1±1.9Highest
20% above NH
Peterborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
16.3%±5.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Dublin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±4.7
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Peterborough and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
62.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±3.9
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
2%±1.1Lowest
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
$98,401±$8kLowest
about the NH average
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
$404,500±$31kLowest
about the NH average
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±$165Lowest
11% below NH
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$1,395±$209
6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,165Lowest
22% above NH
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
$8,655
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±8.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
29.2%±7.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
56.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
11 yrs older than NH
1979Highest
same as NH
1970
9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
about the NH average
25 min
7% below NH
23 minLowest
16% below NH
Work from home
22%±10.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
15.8%±4.5Lowest
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 #59 of 120 in NH
School district Contoocook Valley School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town None in town Exeter High School Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
12.0Lowest
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.