Compare towns
Dover vs Hillsborough vs Keene vs Milford
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%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hillsborough | Keene | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,980Lowest |
22,939 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hillsborough 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% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hillsborough 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% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
| Milford and Dover 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 |
$272,300±$16k 32% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Dover and Milford 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 |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Milford 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Keene High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.3 |
10.7 |
| 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.