Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Hanover 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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Keene | Hanover | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939 |
8,479Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Keene and Dover 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%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | — | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | — | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.