What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellsworth	Keene
People
Population	8,657Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ellsworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average
	Keene and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.	$252,500±$12kHighest 24% below U.S.
	Keene and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 133 in ME	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Keene School District
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.