Compare towns
Barnstead 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
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Barnstead | Dover | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Barnstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Barnstead and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead 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.