Compare towns
Dover vs Rockland 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%).
Rockland has the oldest population (median age 49.3).
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 | Rockland | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,035Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Rockland 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% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oceanside High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.