Compare towns
Keene vs Cornish vs Sanbornton
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 renters (44.9% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Sanbornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Cornish | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Cornish and Sanbornton 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% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Sanbornton 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% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Cornish 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 |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Keene and Sanbornton 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 |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Cornish 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sanbornton 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Cornish School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.