Compare towns
Dover vs Lyndeborough 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%).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,616Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Lyndeborough 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Lyndeborough 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±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Dover and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Dover and Lyndeborough 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | 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 |
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.