What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	22,939Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S.	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Keene and Lowell 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%	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	9.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average
	Lowell 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.	$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Keene 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%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 120 in NH	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Keene School District	Lowell
High school in town	Keene High School	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.