Compare towns
Keene vs Mason vs Webster
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,451Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Mason and Webster 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 |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Mason and Webster 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 |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.