Compare towns
Dover vs Rollinsford vs Durham 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%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,626Lowest |
15,080 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.8±5.5Highest 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Rollinsford 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rollinsford 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% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford and Durham 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Rollinsford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.