Compare towns
Keene vs Brookline vs Durham
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Brookline | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
5,736Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Brookline and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Brookline and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Durham 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.