Compare towns
Keene vs Kingston vs Sullivan
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).
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Kingston | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
6,275 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Kingston and Sullivan 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sullivan and Keene 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Kingston and Keene 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Kingston 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Sanborn Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Sanborn Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.