Compare towns
Keene vs Eliot vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,146Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.