Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Keene vs Sunapee
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Keene | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
22,939 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Hanover and Sunapee 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dover 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | Keene High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.