Compare towns
Keene vs Auburn vs Sullivan vs Surry
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 the most renters (44.9% rent).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($600k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Surry has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Auburn | Sullivan | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
6,119 |
687Lowest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Sullivan and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Auburn 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Sullivan 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% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Surry 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Auburn School District | — | — |
| High school 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 | 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.