Compare towns
Keene vs Essex Junction 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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Essex Junction | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
10,803Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Essex Junction 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Essex High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7Lowest |
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.