Compare towns
Keene vs Braintree vs Castleton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Braintree | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Braintree 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±$12kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
| Keene and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
| Keene and Castleton 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. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Keene 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Keene School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.