Compare towns
Keene vs Nelson vs Acworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Acworth has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Nelson | Acworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
648Lowest |
851 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
47.3±14.5Highest 9% above NH |
| Acworth and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
25.9%±16.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24%±9.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$82,917±$5k 16% below NH |
| Nelson and Acworth 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 |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$273,000±$34k 32% below NH |
| Nelson and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,352±$291Highest 9% below NH |
| Acworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$4,695Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1963 16 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Nelson School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 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.