Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Derry vs Rollinsford
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Keene | Derry | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
22,939 |
34,116Highest |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Derry and Rollinsford 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rollinsford 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Dover and Derry 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Dover 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| 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.