Compare towns
Keene vs Wolfeboro vs Dover vs Milford
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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Wolfeboro | Dover | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
6,571Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
| Milford 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Dover 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dover School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.1 |
12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.