Compare towns
Keene vs Auburn vs Brentwood 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).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Auburn | Brentwood | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
6,119 |
4,641Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Auburn 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Dover 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% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Brentwood 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Auburn School District | Brentwood School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | — | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.