Compare towns

Dover vs Henniker vs South Berwick 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%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureDoverHennikerSouth BerwickKeene
People
Population
33,364Highest
6,197Lowest
7,670
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
39±2.5Highest
about the U.S. average
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
South Berwick 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%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kHighest
23% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
South Berwick 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
31% above U.S.
$356,700±$49k
7% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Dover and South Berwick 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.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
South Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$8,877Highest
185% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Dover 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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and South Berwick 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 #58 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Henniker School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Keene School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town Marshwood High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
—
13.0Highest
12.3Lowest
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.