Compare towns

Barrington vs Dover vs Keene vs Newington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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.

MeasureBarringtonDoverKeeneNewington
People
Population
9,489
33,364Highest
22,939
939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.7±2.3
11% below NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
48.7±10.1Highest
12% above NH
Newington and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
15.7%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
Newington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
62.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14k
11% above NH
$94,829±$7k
4% below NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$145,833±$46kHighest
47% above NH
Newington and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30k
about the NH average
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
25% above NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
Newington and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
7% above NH
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
$6,812
about the NH average
$6,081Lowest
9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
62.9%±44
NH: 48.2%
Barrington and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above NH
23 min
15% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
23 min
13% below NH
Work from home
18.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Barrington 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 #65 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH —
School district Barrington School District Dover School District Keene School District Newington School District
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 Our Story None yet 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.