Compare towns
Keene vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Strafford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
1,372Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Dover 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Dover and Strafford 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. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Strafford 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Strafford School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | 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 |
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.