Compare towns
Dover vs Cornish 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%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
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 | Cornish | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,816Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Dover and Cornish 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 |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Cornish 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 |
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.