Compare towns
Keene vs Salem vs Sullivan
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Salem | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
30,964Highest |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sullivan and Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan 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 NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Salem and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | 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.