Compare towns
Keene vs Lyndeborough vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Windham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
1,616Lowest |
16,038 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.1±2.9 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Lyndeborough 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest 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 |
1996Highest 17 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 |
31 min 15% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Dover 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Windham School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Windham High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.