Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Keene vs Pembroke
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Keene | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
22,939 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Durham and Dover 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±$211 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Pembroke 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Keene School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Keene High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.