What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Nashua
People
Population	22,939Lowest	91,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	40±1.3Highest 8% below NH
	Nashua 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 NH: 18.2%	18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Keene and Nashua 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%	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH	$96,326±$5kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$403,900±$11kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH	$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$6,799Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Nashua 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%	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	55.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Nashua School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Nashua High School South
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.