Compare towns
Dover vs Ashland vs Plymouth vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Keene has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dover | Ashland | Plymouth | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,183Lowest |
4,969 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Ashland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Dover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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 | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Keene 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Ashland School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — | Keene High School |
| 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.