Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dover vs Keene vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Deerfield | Dover | Keene | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Deerfield and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Dover and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest 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 | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Dover School District | Keene School District | Candia 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.