Compare towns
Appleton vs Dover vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Appleton | Dover | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Appleton Public Schools | 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 History | None yet | 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.