Compare towns
Concord vs Manchester vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the oldest population (median age 40.7).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Manchester | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375 |
115,643Highest |
22,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Highest 6% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Manchester and Concord 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Concord 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kHighest 14% below NH |
$81,007±$2k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Concord and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$365,600±$7kHighest 9% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Manchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Highest 8% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
24 minHighest 10% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Concord 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Manchester Memorial High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
14.3Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.