Compare towns
Keene vs Madbury vs Milford 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).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Madbury | Milford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,203Lowest |
16,337 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
37.7±2.1Highest 13% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Madbury 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover 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% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Madbury and Dover 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
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.