Compare towns
Dover vs Braintree vs Castleton 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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Dover 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Dover 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Dover 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 History | None yet | 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.