Compare towns
Exeter vs Dunbarton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Exeter | Dunbarton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
3,097Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton 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 NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dunbarton School District | Dover School District |
| High school 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 | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.