Compare towns
Keene vs Pembroke vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,438 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Pembroke 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Pembroke 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% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$89,519±$22kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Pembroke 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 24% below U.S. |
$371,500±$20kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Pembroke and White River Junction 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. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$7,589Highest 143% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pembroke and White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Pembroke School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Pembroke Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.