What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Readfield
People
Population	22,939Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Readfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Keene and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield 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	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Keene School District	RSU 38
High school in town	Keene High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.