Compare towns
Keene vs Surry vs Sullivan 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Surry | Sullivan | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
1,052 |
687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sullivan and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Sullivan 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% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Surry and Sullivan 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 |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Surry and Dover 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Surry 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 | — | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | — | 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 | 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.