Compare towns
Keene vs Laconia 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).
Laconia has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Laconia | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
17,085Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Laconia School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Laconia High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
10.0Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.