Compare towns
Keene vs Plymouth 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
4,969Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Keene and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Dover 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Dover and Plymouth 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Keene 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | 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 |
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.