Compare towns
Dover vs Henniker vs Plaistow 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Plaistow | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,197Lowest |
7,861 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Plaistow 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% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Dover and Plaistow 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 |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Plaistow and Dover 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 |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Keene 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Henniker School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.