Compare towns

Dover vs Thetford 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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

MeasureDoverThetfordKeene
People
Population
33,364Highest
2,813Lowest
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.6±6.2Highest
12% above U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
Thetford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Thetford 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%
20.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Thetford 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
68%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$88,045±$16k
9% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Dover and Thetford 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.
$329,500±$96k
about the U.S. average
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Dover and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,948
123% above U.S.
$6,812Lowest
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thetford 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%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Keene 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 #40 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Thetford School District Keene School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
12.3Lowest
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.