Compare towns
Keene vs Braintree 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,026 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sullivan 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% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$236,500±$29k 29% below U.S. |
| Keene and Sullivan 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. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Keene and Sullivan 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. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Braintree 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.