Compare towns
Dover vs Lyme vs Newington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Lyme | Newington | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,710 |
939Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Newington and Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Lyme School District | Newington School District | 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 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.