Compare towns
Concord vs Dedham vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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.
| Measure | Concord | Dedham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
25,237 |
22,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 132% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Dedham | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Dedham High | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.