Compare towns
Chatham vs Keene vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k 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.
| Measure | Chatham | Keene | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
22,939Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
| Jackson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$6,001 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | — | Keene School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.