Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Rye vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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.
| Measure | Eliot | Exeter | Rye | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,151 |
5,611Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.