Compare towns
Keene vs Newmarket vs Hanover 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).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
9,463Lowest |
11,685 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Keene 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest 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 |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newmarket School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
9.9Lowest |
10.7 |
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.