Compare towns
Keene vs Portsmouth vs White River Junction vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Concord has the most homeowners (56.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
22,545 |
3,364Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$84,902±$5k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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 | — | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Portsmouth High School | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.