Compare towns
Keene vs Alstead vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Gilsum has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Keene | Alstead | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,551 |
716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Alstead and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Keene and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH |
| Gilsum and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
| Alstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Alstead 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 | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.