Compare towns
Keene vs Derry vs Pembroke 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 the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Derry | Pembroke | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
34,116Highest |
7,438 |
2,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
| Derry and Westmoreland 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 |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,354±$280 9% below NH |
| Derry and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,643Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Pembroke 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pembroke School District | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Pinkerton Academy | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.