Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Plymouth 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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Plymouth has the most homeowners (56.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Plymouth | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,969Lowest |
6,601 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
| Keene and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Dover and Plymouth 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Keene 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Plymouth Regional High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
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.