Compare towns
Concord vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
648Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Nelson and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Nelson and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kHighest 13% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Concord and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Highest 3% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Concord and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Highest 8% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Concord 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Nelson School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.