Compare towns
Madbury vs Ashland 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
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Madbury | Ashland | Keene | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,183Lowest |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Ashland and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Madbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 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 | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District | Keene School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.