Compare towns
Ludlow vs Exeter 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
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Ludlow | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,990 |
16,151Highest |
1,466Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 34% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14k 32% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890 57% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Ludlow 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 | — |
| School district | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.