Compare towns
Exeter vs Dover vs Mendon vs Newfields
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 renters (30.9% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Mendon | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,466 |
1,113Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% 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% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.