What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Salem
People
Population	22,939Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Keene and Salem 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 NH: 40.6%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Lowest about the NH average	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salem 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.