Compare towns
Keene vs Campton vs Durham 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).
Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Campton | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
3,407Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Campton 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% |
23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Campton 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% |
51.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$118,870±$21k 20% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Campton 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 |
$356,300±$38k 11% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Durham 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 |
$6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Durham 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% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Campton and Durham 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Campton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 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.