Compare towns

Keene vs Kittery vs Newfields

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 affordable homes ($253k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

MeasureKeeneKitteryNewfields
People
Population
22,939Highest
10,473
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
Kittery and Newfields 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%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Kittery 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%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
Newfields and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Kittery 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 #17 of 133 in ME —
School district Keene School District Kittery Public Schools Newfields School District
High school in town Keene High School Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
9.9Lowest
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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.