Compare towns
Keene vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Plainfield | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5Highest about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | 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.