Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Keene vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hillsborough | Keene | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Lowest |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Dover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16k 32% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.3 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.