Compare towns
Keene vs Biddeford vs Sullivan
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).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Biddeford | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
22,498 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sullivan and Biddeford 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% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest 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±$8k about the U.S. average |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Sullivan 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 24% below U.S. |
$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% 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. |
$5,099 63% 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% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 History | None yet | 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.