Compare towns
Alstead vs Dover vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Alstead | Dover | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Keene 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Dover School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.