Compare towns
Keene vs Somersworth vs Durham 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).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Somersworth | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
12,111Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.4±2.7Highest 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Somersworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$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% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Somersworth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Somersworth High School | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.