Compare towns
Keene vs Pembroke vs Rochester
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).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($372k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Pembroke | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
7,438Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Rochester 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$89,519±$22kHighest 10% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Pembroke and Rochester 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 |
$371,500±$20kHighest 8% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH |
| Rochester and Keene 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Pembroke School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Pembroke Academy | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.1 |
13.2Highest |
| 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.