Compare towns

Freeport vs Keene vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

MeasureFreeportKeeneEliot
People
Population
8,802
22,939Highest
7,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±4.3
25% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.7%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,326±$19kHighest
33% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,400±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,042
62% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±18.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Freeport and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Freeport and Eliot 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 #4 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Keene School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Freeport High School Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
12.3Highest
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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.