What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Ellsworth
People
Population	22,939Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ellsworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7%	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Keene and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kHighest 24% below U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Keene and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Keene 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%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 120 in NH	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Keene School District	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Keene High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.