What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Bristol	Keene
People
Population	3,273Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH
	Bristol and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bristol and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH	$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH
	Keene and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH
	Bristol and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH
	Keene and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Lowest 38% below NH	$6,812Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bristol and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Bristol 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	#79 of 120 in NH	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Keene School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	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.