Compare towns
Dover vs Keene vs Swanzey vs White River Junction
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Swanzey | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
22,939 |
7,398 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey and White River Junction 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% 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% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dover and Swanzey 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. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and White River Junction 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Keene School District | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | Monadnock Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.