Compare towns
Dover vs Bowdoin 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%).
Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Bowdoin | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,188Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bowdoin 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Dover 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% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±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 | #28 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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 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.