Compare towns
Hartford vs Keene vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Hartford | Keene | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736 |
22,939Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 85% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Keene School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Keene High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.