Compare towns
Keene vs Lowell vs Concord
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).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Concord has the oldest population (median age 40.7).
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 | Lowell | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Lowest |
118,368Highest |
44,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.7±1.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Concord 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Concord 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$84,902±$5kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Concord and Lowell 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. |
$350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$7,227Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Concord 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Lowell | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Lowell High | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.