Compare towns
Keene vs Portsmouth vs Brookline vs Roxbury
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Roxbury has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | Brookline | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
22,545 |
5,736 |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
43.2±17.7Highest about the NH average |
| Roxbury and Portsmouth 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±11.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±10.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
13.4%±15.8 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$323,100±$219k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— |
| Brookline and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,787Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | Brookline School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.