Compare towns

Keene vs Portsmouth vs Westmoreland vs Concord

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).
Westmoreland has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Concord has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureKeenePortsmouthWestmorelandConcord
People
Population
22,939
22,545
2,237Lowest
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
42.9±2
about the NH average
55.3±2.2Highest
28% above NH
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.5%±3.4
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±1.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Concord and Westmoreland 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%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
47.2%
NH: 40.6%
42.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
3.4%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$106,219±$7kHighest
7% above NH
$104,444±$28k
5% above NH
$84,902±$5k
14% below NH
Portsmouth and Westmoreland 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
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$351,800±$12k
13% below NH
$350,900±$13k
13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,354±$280
9% below NH
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812
about the NH average
$8,018Highest
20% above NH
$6,643Lowest
about the NH average
$7,227
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
32.5%±23.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±5.2
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%
6.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
89.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
18 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1975Highest
4 yrs older than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
23 minHighest
14% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.9%±6.3
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Portsmouth 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 #11 of 120 in NH — #89 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District Portsmouth School District Westmoreland School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Keene High School Portsmouth High School None in town Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
11.4Lowest
—
13.0Highest
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.