What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the oldest population (median age 37.6).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Keene	Durham
People
Population	22,939Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
	Durham and Keene 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	19 minHighest 27% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.