Compare towns
Keene vs Derry vs Exeter 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).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Derry | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
34,116Highest |
16,151Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Exeter 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.