Compare towns
Derry vs Northfield 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
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Derry | Northfield | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
5,920Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 133% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.