Compare towns
Dover vs Somersworth vs Keene vs Rollinsford
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%).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Somersworth | Keene | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
12,111 |
22,939 |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.8±5.5Highest 10% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Somersworth 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% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Rollinsford 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9Highest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
| Dover and Rollinsford 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 |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Dover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Somersworth School District | Keene School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Somersworth High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
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| 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.