Compare towns
Keene vs Dover vs Atkinson
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Atkinson has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Dover | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
33,364Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.