Compare towns
Keene vs Lyme vs Hampton Falls 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Lyme | Hampton Falls | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
1,710Lowest |
2,328 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | 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 | 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.