Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Exeter 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
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 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 | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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 | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 59 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.