Compare towns
Newmarket 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Newmarket | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,463Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest 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 | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Lowest 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 | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.1 |
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.