Compare towns
Keene vs Brentwood vs Swanzey 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Brentwood | Swanzey | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
4,641Lowest |
7,398 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Swanzey 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Swanzey 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% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Brentwood 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% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Brentwood and Dover 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 |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Brentwood 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Brentwood School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.