Compare towns
Keene vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
648Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Nelson and Dover 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Nelson School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | 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 |
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.