What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Lancaster
People
Population	22,939Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH
	Lancaster and Keene 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%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster 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%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Keene and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kHighest 37% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Keene and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Keene and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 18 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	23 minHighest 14% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Keene High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.