Compare towns
Keene vs Durham vs Barrington vs Dover
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Barrington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
10,681 |
9,489Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.7±2.3Highest 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Barrington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Barrington 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Barrington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Barrington School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| 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.