Compare towns
Keene vs Hampstead 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Hampstead | Sullivan | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
9,102 |
687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sullivan and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Sullivan 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 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 |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% 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% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% 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 |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Dover 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Hampstead School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | — | 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.