Compare towns
Milford vs Dover vs Keene vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Milford | Dover | Keene | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Dover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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 | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Dover School District | Keene School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.3 |
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| 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.