Compare towns
Hanover vs Dorset vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Dorset | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479 |
2,092Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.