Compare towns
Keene vs Plainfield vs Sullivan
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 (-0.6%).
Sullivan has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,314 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sullivan 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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Sullivan 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Keene 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.