Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Windham 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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Windham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685Lowest |
16,038 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Windham 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Windham and Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | Windham High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.