Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Keene vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Hillsborough | Keene | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
22,939Highest |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kHighest 32% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 13% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.