What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).

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	Northfield
People
Population	22,939Highest	5,920Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S.	36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Keene and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Keene and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$274,400±$21kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	27 minHighest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Keene and Northfield 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	#42 of 70 in VT
School district	Keene School District	Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town	Keene High School	Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.