Compare towns
Keene vs Hanover vs Surry
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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
8,479 |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Surry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry 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% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Hanover and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
| Hanover and Surry 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Surry 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.