Compare towns

Dover vs Keene vs St. Albans

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).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% 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.

MeasureDoverKeeneSt. Albans
People
Population
33,364Highest
22,939
6,954Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
38.7±2Highest
about the U.S. average
St. Albans 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
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
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%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and Dover 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%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Keene 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 #46 of 70 in VT
School district Dover School District Keene School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town Dover Senior High School Keene High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
12.3
11.4Lowest
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.