Compare towns
Keene vs White River Junction vs Swanzey 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | White River Junction | Swanzey | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
3,364Lowest |
7,398 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Dover and Swanzey 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 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 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and White River Junction 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 |
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.