Compare towns

Keene vs Roxbury vs Somersworth 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).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).

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.

MeasureKeeneRoxburySomersworthDover
People
Population
22,939
299Lowest
12,111
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
—
+0.8%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
43.2±17.7Highest
about the NH average
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
Roxbury and Somersworth 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%
14.7%±11.5
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Dover 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%
17.4%±10.8
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Keene and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
30.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
31.4%
NH: 40.6%
52%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
13.4%±15.8
NH: 6%
4.9%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
Keene and Roxbury 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
21% below NH
$69,226±$14kLowest
30% below NH
$74,504±$13k
25% below NH
$94,829±$7kHighest
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$323,100±$219k
20% below NH
$318,400±$23k
21% below NH
$436,700±$20kHighest
8% above NH
Dover and Roxbury 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
—
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
$1,607±$100Highest
8% above NH
Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812
about the NH average
$5,787Lowest
13% below NH
$6,805
about the NH average
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth and Dover 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%
3.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
95.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
1976Highest
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
21 min
22% below NH
26 minHighest
3% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
0.7%±1.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5
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 — #117 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District — Somersworth School District Dover School District
High school in town Keene High School — Somersworth High School Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
—
11.4Lowest
12.7Highest
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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.