Compare towns

Dover vs Keene vs Royalton

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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).

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.

MeasureDoverKeeneRoyalton
People
Population
33,364Highest
22,939
2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Royalton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$103,938±$24kHighest
29% above U.S.
Royalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$263,200±$73k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Royalton 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 #48 of 70 in VT
School district Dover School District Keene School District White River Unified School District #79
High school in town Dover Senior High School Keene High School White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
12.3
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.