What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham 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.

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

Measure	Keene	Needham
People
Population	22,939Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1965Highest 15 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 120 in NH	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Keene School District	Needham
High school in town	Keene High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.