Compare towns
Keene vs Hartford vs Canaan
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 most renters (44.9% rent).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
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 | Hartford | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
10,736 |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Hartford 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% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Canaan 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Canaan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Canaan 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. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Keene and Hartford 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. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Canaan 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Hartford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Hartford High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.