Compare towns
Benson vs Keene vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Benson | Keene | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
22,939Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Keene and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Keene and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
— |
| Keene and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,485 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.