Compare towns
Canaan vs Keene vs Dover vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Canaan | Keene | Dover | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Keene School District | Dover School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.3 |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.