Compare towns
Keene vs Portsmouth vs Amherst vs Sullivan
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Amherst | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
22,545 |
11,861 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | Souhegan Coop High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.