Compare towns
Keene vs Essex Junction vs Sullivan
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Essex Junction | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
10,803 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Essex Junction 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% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Sullivan 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% below 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. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | 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.