Compare towns
Dorset vs Keene vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Manchester has the oldest population (median age 54.5).
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 | Dorset | Keene | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
22,939Highest |
4,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,886±$23k 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$454,600±$47k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,923Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Manchester 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Keene School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.