Compare towns
Keene vs Newfields vs Plaistow 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Plaistow | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,023Lowest |
7,861 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newfields and Plaistow 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Plaistow 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Newfields and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newfields School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
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.