Compare towns
Appleton vs Dover vs Keene vs Strong
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Appleton | Dover | Keene | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%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. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Dover 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% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below 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%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above 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% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.