Compare towns
Keene vs Pepperell vs North Hampton
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).
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
11,663 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | North Middlesex | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
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| 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.