Compare towns
Keene vs Mapleton vs Epping
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Mapleton | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,884Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Epping and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Epping 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Keene 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Epping and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Keene 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Keene 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Keene 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Epping School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.