Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Ashland 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Ashland | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
2,183Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Ashland 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Dover and Durham 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 |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.