Compare towns
Keene vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
2,522Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Plainfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Plainfield 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Plainfield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.