Compare towns
Keene vs Plainfield vs Derby
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 renters (44.9% rent).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Plainfield | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Keene School District | Plainfield School District | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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.