Compare towns
Keene vs Exeter vs Meredith 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Exeter | Meredith | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
16,151 |
6,758Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.