Compare towns
Dover vs Barrington vs Lee 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%).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Barrington | Lee | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
9,489 |
4,576Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Lee and Barrington 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% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Lee 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% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Lee and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
— | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Barrington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Barrington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 10 photos → | 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.