Compare towns
Keene vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (75.1%).
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 | Lancaster | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
3,216Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Lancaster and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | White Mountains Regional 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 |
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.