Compare towns

Gray vs Hampden 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

Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k median).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).

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.

MeasureGrayHampdenKeene
People
Population
8,429
7,896Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.4±4.5Highest
12% above U.S.
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
Gray and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±4
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Keene and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hampden and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$20kHighest
9% above U.S.
$301,300±$38k
9% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,371±$89Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,286±$317Lowest
9% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Gray and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,694
18% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden 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 #10 of 133 in ME #6 of 133 in ME #81 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences RSU 22 Keene School District
High school in town Gray-New Gloucester High School Hampden Academy Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
14.8Highest
12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.