What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Hampden
People
Population	22,939Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.
	Hampden 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%	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$301,300±$38kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Hampden and Keene 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.	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Keene and Hampden 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.	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	Keene School District	RSU 22
High school in town	Keene High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	14.8Highest
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.