What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Rockland has the most people working from home (22.1%).

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	Rockland
People
Population	22,939Highest	7,035Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rockland 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%	25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rockland 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kHighest 24% below U.S.	$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Keene and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rockland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	62%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 35% below U.S.	12 minLowest 53% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rockland 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	#96 of 133 in ME
School district	Keene School District	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town	Keene High School	Oceanside High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.7Lowest
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.