Compare towns
Concord vs Keene vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.
| Measure | Concord | Keene | Rye | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
22,939 |
5,611Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% 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 |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Rye and Dover 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Rye and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 8% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% 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% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%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 |
1972 7 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 |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Keene School District | Rye School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Keene High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
| 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.