Compare towns
Chatham vs Keene vs Orange vs Shelburne
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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).
Shelburne has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Chatham | Keene | Orange | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 430 |
22,939Highest |
320Lowest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
50.3±11Highest 16% above NH |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Orange 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% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
4%±4.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Orange and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Chatham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
— | $1,130±$62Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Orange 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.