Compare towns
Keene vs Bartlett vs Meredith 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).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Bartlett | Meredith | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
3,281Lowest |
6,758 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bartlett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Meredith 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% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Dover and Meredith 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 |
$371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Meredith and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Bartlett 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 |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
79%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Bartlett School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.