Compare towns
Keene vs Randolph vs Williston 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Randolph | Williston | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
4,843Lowest |
10,144 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Williston and Randolph 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% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph and Williston 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% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$278,700±$38k 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
9.4Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.