Compare towns
Keene vs Berwick vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Berwick | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,998Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.