What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Keene
People
Population	5,994Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Keene and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,342±$68 10% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH	$6,812Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Keene and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Keene School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.