What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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	Biddeford	Keene
People
Population	22,498Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S.	37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S.
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Biddeford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S.	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Keene and Biddeford 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	#111 of 133 in ME	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Keene School District
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.