Compare towns
Keene vs Amherst vs Hooksett 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Keene | Amherst | Hooksett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
11,861Lowest |
15,057 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.