Compare towns
Exeter vs Andover 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
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Exeter | Andover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
36,652Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Dover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Andover 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 | #68 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.