Compare towns
Canaan vs Keene vs Dover vs Orange
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 oldest population (median age 44.4).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
| Canaan and Orange 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% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange 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% |
20%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Orange and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% 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% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,132Lowest 23% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Keene School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.3 |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.