Compare towns
Dover vs Waitsfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Waitsfield has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Waitsfield | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,918Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Waitsfield 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. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Waitsfield 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. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Waitsfield 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.