Compare towns
Conway vs Keene vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Conway | Keene | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141 |
22,939Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kHighest 22% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Conway and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,132 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Conway and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 23% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.