Compare towns
Keene vs Greenland vs Portsmouth vs Swanzey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Greenland | Portsmouth | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,106Lowest |
22,545 |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
48.4±7.7 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Greenland and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$162,837±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$662,800±$42k 65% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,331±$363Highest 56% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Greenland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$7,420 11% above NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 23% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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 | #10 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Greenland School District | Portsmouth School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.