Compare towns
Keene vs Mason vs Surry
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 renters (44.9% rent).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Mason | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,451 |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Surry and Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Surry 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Surry 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 NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry 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 |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Mason and Surry 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 |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
| Mason and Surry 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 |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Surry 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 | Mason 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 | 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.