Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Dover vs Newfields
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%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | North Hampton | Dover | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,543 |
33,364Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| North Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dover 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Newfields 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Dover School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.