What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	22,939Highest	9,281Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Keene and Salisbury 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%	25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Keene 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.	$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salisbury and Keene 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%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA
School district	Keene School District	Triton
High school in town	Keene High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.