What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Alton
People
Population	22,939Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Keene and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68 10% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Keene and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.