What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Keene	Essex Junction
People
Population	22,939Highest	10,803Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average
	Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$89,257±$16kHighest 11% above U.S.
	Essex Junction and Keene 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.	$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S.
	Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Essex Junction 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%	9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Essex Junction 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	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Keene School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Keene High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.7Lowest
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.