Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter vs Dover vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Derry has the most homeowners (70.2%).
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 | Milford | Exeter | Dover | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
16,151Lowest |
33,364 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 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 | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.7 |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.