Compare towns
Johnson vs Keene vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Johnson | Keene | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Lowest |
22,939Highest |
3,767 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S. |
37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
| Keene and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,344±$19k 10% below U.S. |
| Keene and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$343,000±$38kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,910 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Cambridge 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH | #25 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Keene School District | Cambridge School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.