Compare towns
Exeter vs Dedham vs Salem
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Exeter | Dedham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Exeter 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% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.