Compare towns
Stowe 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
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
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 | Stowe | Dorset | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285 |
2,092Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.