Compare towns

Dover vs Durham 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 expensive homes ($437k median).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
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.

MeasureDoverDurhamKeene
People
Population
33,364Highest
4,262Lowest
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
42.6±5.9Highest
10% above U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
Durham 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
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
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±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
—
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham 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 #14 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District RSU 05 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 History 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.