Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Lee vs Newfields
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).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Lee | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939 |
4,576 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Newfields 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newfields 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields 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 | 10 photos → | 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.