Compare towns

Keene vs Brentwood vs Auburn vs Concord

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brentwood has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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.

MeasureKeeneBrentwoodAuburnConcord
People
Population
22,939
4,641Lowest
6,119
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+0.1%
NH: +4.6%
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
43.8±3.1
about the NH average
44.3±5.9Highest
about the NH average
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.3%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±1.3
NH: 18.2%
Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±1.5
NH: 20.1%
Brentwood 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%
NH: 40.6%
49%
NH: 40.6%
55.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
7.2%±4.7
NH: 6%
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$165,509±$23kHighest
67% above NH
$153,253±$6k
55% above NH
$84,902±$5k
14% below NH
Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$528,100±$75k
31% above NH
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$350,900±$13k
13% below NH
Auburn and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$2,217±$654Highest
49% above NH
$1,893±$822
27% above NH
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
Brentwood and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
$9,713Highest
46% above NH
$8,092
21% above NH
$7,227
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
63.9%±37.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±5.2
NH: 48.2%
Brentwood 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
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
2.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%
NH: 72.8%
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1995Highest
16 yrs newer than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
28 min
4% above NH
28 minHighest
4% above NH
23 min
14% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
23.1%±8.5
NH: 16.8%
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Auburn and Brentwood 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 #16 of 120 in NH #44 of 120 in NH #89 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District Brentwood School District Auburn School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Keene High School None in town None in town Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Lowest
— —
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 6 photos → None yet None yet

NH 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.