What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Plymouth
People
Population	22,939Highest	6,601Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH	24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Keene and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	54%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH	$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH
	Keene and Plymouth 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	$292,400±$22kHighest 27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH	$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH
	Keene and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$6,288Lowest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2%	33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Keene and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	18 minHighest 31% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Plymouth Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.