Compare towns
Keene vs Lyndeborough vs Hooksett 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).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Hooksett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
1,616Lowest |
15,057 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Hooksett 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 |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Hooksett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Hooksett 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.