Compare towns
Keene vs Hanover vs Dover vs Concord
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 40.7).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Dover | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
8,479Lowest |
33,364 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
| Concord and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Concord 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Concord 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Dover School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Dover Senior High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.