Compare towns
White River Junction vs Keene vs Dover vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Keene | Dover | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
22,939 |
33,364Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Dover School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Dover Senior High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.