Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs Dover vs Moultonborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Moultonborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.6%).
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 | Rye | Exeter | Dover | Moultonborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
5,126Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+21.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
58.3±4.5Highest 35% above NH |
| Moultonborough and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.3%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Moultonborough and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.4%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Moultonborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$106,693±$18k 8% above NH |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$644,200±$120k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,452±$491Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$3,479Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±23.3Lowest 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 | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Moultonborough 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #36 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | Moultonborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | Moultonborough Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.7Highest |
6.7Lowest |
| 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.