What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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	Brunswick	Keene
People
Population	22,336Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±2.8Highest about the U.S. average	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Brunswick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brunswick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Keene and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Keene and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Brunswick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brunswick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 11% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brunswick 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	#30 of 133 in ME	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10	Keene School District
High school in town	Brunswick High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.