Compare towns
Keene vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Newington
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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Lyme | Newfields | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,710 |
2,023 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| 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 21% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| Newfields and Newington 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.