Compare towns
Dover vs Holderness vs Plymouth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Holderness | Plymouth | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,917Lowest |
6,601 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Holderness and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Holderness 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Dover and Holderness 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 |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Holderness School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.