Compare towns
Keene vs Newfields vs Bedford
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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
2,023Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest 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±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Newfields 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newfields School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.