Compare towns

Hampton Falls vs Keene vs Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureHampton FallsKeeneDurham
People
Population
2,328Lowest
22,939Highest
10,681
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
Kids under 18
19.1%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Hampton Falls and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$498,000±$45k
24% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
Hampton Falls and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1973
6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
21% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
21.8%±4.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Falls 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 — #81 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton Falls School District Keene School District —
High school in town None in town Keene High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
—
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.