Compare towns
Dublin vs Keene vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Dublin | Keene | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688 |
22,939Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kHighest 6% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72kHighest 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Dublin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Keene and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Highest 22% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Dublin 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Keene School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.