Compare towns
Keene vs Hartford vs St. Albans 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Hartford | St. Albans | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
10,736 |
6,954Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hartford and St. Albans 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% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #46 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Hartford School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Hartford High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
9.6Lowest |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.