Compare towns

Dover vs Deerfield vs Eliot 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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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.

MeasureDoverDeerfieldEliotKeene
People
Population
33,364Highest
4,932Lowest
7,146
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
42.8±4.2
10% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
Eliot and Deerfield 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%
20.9%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Deerfield 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%
17.5%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$131,563±$10kHighest
63% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$421,000±$33k
27% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Eliot 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
14% above U.S.
$1,593±$318
13% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$7,369
136% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
17.4%±17.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.4%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Deerfield 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 #61 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Deerfield School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 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 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.