What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Northwood
People
Population	22,939Highest	4,688Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average
	Northwood and Keene 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%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Northwood 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 NH: 20.1%	21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Northwood 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 NH: 40.6%	38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH	$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$363,000±$13kHighest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH	$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH
	Keene and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$5,806Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2%	23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Keene and Northwood 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%	7.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	89%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1970Highest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	37 minHighest 37% above NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Northwood 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	#24 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.