Compare towns
Dover vs Kingston vs Bartlett vs Keene
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 the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Kingston | Bartlett | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,275 |
3,281Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Bartlett and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Kingston 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Kingston 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 |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Bartlett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Dover 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
79%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #74 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Bartlett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.9Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.