Compare towns
Dover vs Royalton vs Keene vs Milford
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%).
Royalton has the oldest population (median age 43.9).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Royalton | Keene | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,752Lowest |
22,939 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Royalton 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% |
14.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Royalton 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% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Royalton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
| Dover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,661±$126Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Milford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford and Dover 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | White River Unified School District #79 | Keene School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | White River Valley High School | Keene High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
8.7Lowest |
12.3 |
10.7 |
| 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.