Compare towns
Keene vs Newfields vs Portsmouth vs Swanzey
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 the highest household income ($198k).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Portsmouth | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,023Lowest |
22,545 |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Swanzey 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Portsmouth 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newfields 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±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Newfields and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.