What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Canaan
People
Population	22,939Highest	3,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Canaan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Keene and Canaan 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 NH: 40.6%	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH
	Canaan 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±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH
	Canaan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$5,985Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan 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 NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Canaan 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	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Mascoma Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.