Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Merrimack
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).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939Lowest |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
| Merrimack and Dover 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 |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% 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% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.