What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Methuen
People
Population	22,939Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	39.9±1.7Highest about the U.S. average
	Methuen 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%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Methuen 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%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Methuen 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%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Keene and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Keene School District	Methuen
High school in town	Keene High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.