Compare towns
Exeter vs South Eliot vs Dover
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,203Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Dover 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Eliot 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. |
$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | 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 |
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.