Compare towns
Dover vs Middlesex vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.