Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Eliot vs Madbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Keene | Eliot | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939 |
7,146 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Madbury 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. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
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.