Compare towns
Keene vs Bellows Falls vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Keene | Bellows Falls | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,891Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.