Compare towns
Keene vs Sullivan vs Dover vs Somersworth
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Sullivan | Dover | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Sullivan 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% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Sullivan 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±$12k 37% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| 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 |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Dover School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Dover Senior High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.