Compare towns
Keene vs North Hampton vs Hampstead 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).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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 | North Hampton | Hampstead | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
4,543Lowest |
9,102 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| North Hampton and Hampstead 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Hampstead 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| North Hampton and Hampstead 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Hampstead 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | North Hampton School District | Hampstead School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | 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 | 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.