Compare towns
Keene vs Orange vs Conway
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 renters (44.9% rent).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Orange | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
320Lowest |
10,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange 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% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
| Orange and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
$314,000±$43kHighest 22% below NH |
| Conway and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
— | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Conway 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% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
21 min 23% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange 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 | — | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Conway School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.