Compare towns

Concord vs Keene vs Pembroke vs Dover

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

MeasureConcordKeenePembrokeDover
People
Population
44,375Highest
22,939
7,438Lowest
33,364
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+1.3%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
41.9±3.3Highest
3% below NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
Pembroke and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.3
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
24%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
18.7%±1.5
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Keene and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
32.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,902±$5k
14% below NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$89,519±$22k
10% below NH
$94,829±$7kHighest
4% below NH
Dover and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,900±$13k
13% below NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$371,500±$20k
8% below NH
$436,700±$20kHighest
8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$1,218±$354Lowest
18% below NH
$1,607±$100Highest
8% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,227
8% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
$7,589
14% above NH
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
48.4%±21.8
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Dover and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
67.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
10 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
1976Highest
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
25 minHighest
8% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
17%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
Dover and Pembroke 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 #89 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH #85 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Keene School District Pembroke School District Dover School District
High school in town Concord High School Keene High School Pembroke Academy Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0
12.3Lowest
13.1Highest
12.7
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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.