Compare towns
Keene vs Auburn vs Dover vs Westmoreland
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Dover | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
6,119 |
33,364Highest |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
47.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,354±$280 9% below NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,643Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2 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% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Auburn School District | Dover School District | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 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.