Compare towns
Dover vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,758Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Dover and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Meredith and Dover 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.