Compare towns
Keene vs Dover vs Plaistow vs Concord
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%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Plaistow | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
33,364 |
7,861Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
| Concord and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Concord 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Dover and Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.7 |
11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.