Compare towns
Keene vs Newfields vs Ashland
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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Newfields and Ashland 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Newfields School District | Ashland 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.