Compare towns
Keene vs Mont Vernon vs Westmoreland 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).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Mont Vernon | Westmoreland | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,636 |
2,237Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
47.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,354±$280 9% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Westmoreland 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 |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$6,643Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Mont Vernon School District | Westmoreland 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.