Compare towns
Dover vs Thornton vs Keene vs Concord
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Concord has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Thornton | Keene | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364 |
2,799Lowest |
22,939 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Concord and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Thornton 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% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Dover and Thornton 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 |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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 NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Thornton School District | Keene School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Keene High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.