Compare towns
Keene vs Newfields vs Townsend vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,023Lowest |
9,100 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.