Compare towns
Keene vs Swanzey vs Surry 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).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Swanzey | Surry | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
7,398 |
1,052Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Swanzey 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% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Surry 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 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 |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Surry 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 37% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Dover 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% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Monadnock Regional School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Monadnock Regional High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 12.7 |
| 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.