Compare towns
Concord vs Chichester vs Keene vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chichester has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Concord | Chichester | Keene | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
2,745Lowest |
22,939 |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Chichester and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$109,297±$13kHighest 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Highest 8% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Chichester School District | Keene School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | None in town | Keene High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | 12.3Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| 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.