Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Exeter vs Townshend 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
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Wardsboro | Exeter | Townshend | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,538 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.