Compare towns
Keene vs Dover vs Holderness
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%).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
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 | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
33,364Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
| Holderness 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Holderness 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
| Holderness and Dover 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 |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Dover and Holderness 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Holderness 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.