Compare towns
Keene vs Portsmouth vs Stratham 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 renters (48.1% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Stratham | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
22,545 |
7,754 |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±11.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest 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% |
3.9%±1.7 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$323,100±$219k 20% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,787Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% 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 |
1986Highest 7 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 |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.