What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Biddeford
People
Population	22,939Highest	22,498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S.	35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Keene and Biddeford 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%	15.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Biddeford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Biddeford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	11%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S.
	Keene and Biddeford 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.	$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Keene and Biddeford 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	#111 of 133 in ME
School district	Keene School District	Biddeford Public Schools
High school in town	Keene High School	Biddeford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	14.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.