Compare towns
Lee vs Keene 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
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lee | Keene | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 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 | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 10 photos → | 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.