Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Bow 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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bow | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
8,335Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Bow 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 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Bow and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Bow School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Bow High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.