Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Norwich 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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Norwich | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,601 |
3,640Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Keene 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Norwich School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | 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 |
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.