Compare towns
Dover vs Biddeford vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Biddeford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,498Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Keene and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Biddeford Public Schools | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Biddeford High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
14.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.