Compare towns
Dover vs Freeport vs Keene vs Eliot
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 renters (47.3% rent).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Freeport | Keene | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
8,802 |
22,939 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover 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. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Eliot 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 05 | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Freeport High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.