Compare towns
Exeter vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most kids (26% under 18).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Dover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,930 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Dover and Exeter 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149k 293% above U.S. |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
— |
| Dover and Exeter 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%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
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.