Compare towns
Keene vs Ellsworth vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ellsworth has the most homeowners (66.7%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Ellsworth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
8,657Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Ellsworth High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.