Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Keene vs Lyme
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Keene | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
22,939 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | Keene School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| 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.