Compare towns
Exeter vs Manchester 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%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Manchester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
115,643Highest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover 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 |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Manchester Memorial High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.