Compare towns

Keene vs Gray 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).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

MeasureKeeneGrayDover
People
Population
22,939
8,429Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Gray 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%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Gray 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%
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Keene and Gray 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%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$95,236±$8kHighest
18% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
Gray 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
24% below U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray 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%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%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.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
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 #10 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences Dover School District
High school in town Keene High School Gray-New Gloucester High School Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Lowest
12.5
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.