Compare towns

Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Dover vs Brentwood

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).

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.

MeasureExeterOgunquitDoverBrentwood
People
Population
16,151
1,379Lowest
33,364Highest
4,641
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.8±3.1
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brentwood 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
37% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$165,509±$23kHighest
105% above U.S.
Brentwood and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$528,100±$75k
59% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
—
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$2,217±$654Highest
57% above U.S.
Brentwood 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.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$9,713Highest
211% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
63.9%±37.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brentwood 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1995Highest
15 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Brentwood 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 — #64 of 120 in NH #16 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Dover School District Brentwood School District
High school in town Exeter High School — Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
12.7Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 59 photos → None yet None yet 6 photos →

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.