Compare towns
Keene vs Dover vs New Castle vs Sullivan
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | New Castle | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
33,364Highest |
827 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Dover School District | New Castle 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 | 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.