Compare towns
Keene vs Durham vs Sullivan 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Sullivan | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
10,681 |
687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest 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 |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%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% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$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±$211 13% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%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 |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | — | 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.