Compare towns
Keene vs Kingston vs Sunapee
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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
6,275 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Keene and Kingston 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%±6 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Kingston and Sunapee 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
| Kingston and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.9Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.