Compare towns

Keene vs Hanover vs Newfields vs Roxbury

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 renters (44.9% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Newfields has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureKeeneHanoverNewfieldsRoxbury
People
Population
22,939Highest
11,685
2,023
299Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
—
Median age
37.6±2.3
13% below NH
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
43.2±17.7
about the NH average
Newfields and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±11.5
NH: 18.2%
Newfields and Roxbury 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%
19.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±10.8
NH: 20.1%
Hanover 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%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
30.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Lowest
NH: 6%
13.4%±15.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8k
21% below NH
$169,583±$36k
71% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$69,226±$14kLowest
30% below NH
Newfields and Hanover 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
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$323,100±$219k
20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
—
Hanover and Newfields 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$5,787Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hanover 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
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%
NH: 72.8%
95.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
20 min
27% below NH
26 minHighest
4% below NH
21 min
22% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
0.7%±1.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Newfields 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 Dresden School District · Hanover School District Newfields School District —
High school in town Keene High School Hanover High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
10.7Lowest
— —
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.