Compare towns
Keene vs Dover vs Portsmouth
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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
33,364Highest |
22,545Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Dover School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.