Compare towns
Keene vs Hampton Falls vs Bow 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hampton Falls | Bow | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,328Lowest |
8,335 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Bow 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Hampton Falls School District | Bow School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Bow High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.