Compare towns
Keene vs Pepperell vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Pepperell | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
11,663 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Brookline 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | North Middlesex | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.