What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Northbridge
People
Population	22,939Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Keene and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge and Keene 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Keene School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Keene High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.