Compare towns
Keene vs Canaan vs Westmoreland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Canaan has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Westmoreland has the most expensive homes ($352k median).
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 | Canaan | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,811 |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Westmoreland 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$104,444±$28kHighest 5% above NH |
| Westmoreland and Canaan 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±$26k 37% below NH |
$351,800±$12kHighest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,354±$280Highest 9% below NH |
| Westmoreland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,643 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 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 |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.