Compare towns
Dover vs Newfields vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Newfields | Wolfeboro | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,571 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields 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 4% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Newfields School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional 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 | 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.