Compare towns
Keene vs Thetford 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Thetford has the most homeowners (84.1%).
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 | Thetford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,813Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Thetford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford 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% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and Thetford 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. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Dover and Thetford 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. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Thetford 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.