Compare towns
Keene vs Dover vs Milford vs Newmarket
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%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Dover | Milford | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
33,364Highest |
16,337 |
9,463Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
| Newmarket 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%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Milford 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
| Newmarket 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Dover School District | Milford School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.7Highest |
10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.