Compare towns
Dover vs Essex Junction 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Essex Junction | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,803Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Essex Junction 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% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Essex Junction 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. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Essex Junction 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 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Essex High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.