Compare towns
Keene vs Nelson vs Springfield
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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
648Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Nelson 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±$49k 15% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Keene and Nelson 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Springfield 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 | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | 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.