Compare towns
Keene vs Newmarket vs Bow 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).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Newmarket | Bow | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
9,463 |
8,335Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Bow and Newmarket 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 |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Newmarket 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newmarket School District | Bow School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Bow High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.