Compare towns

Dover vs Wells vs Windham 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 renters (47.3% rent).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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.

MeasureDoverWellsWindhamKeene
People
Population
33,364Highest
11,713Lowest
16,038
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham 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%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #22 of 133 in ME #13 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD Windham School District Keene School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Wells High School Windham High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
11.4Lowest
12.8Highest
12.3
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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.