Compare towns
Holderness vs Strafford vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Holderness | Strafford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
4,306 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Strafford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Strafford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Strafford and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Holderness and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Strafford School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None 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.