Compare towns
Dover vs Lincoln vs Ripton vs Keene
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 kids (16.9% under 18).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Lincoln | Ripton | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,394 |
508Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Lincoln 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% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln 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 |
| School district | Dover School District | Lincoln Town School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.