Compare towns
Keene vs Plymouth vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 37.6).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Plymouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
6,601Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Highest 13% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Keene 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
19 minHighest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.