What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	South Berwick
People
Population	22,939Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average
	South Berwick and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and South Berwick 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%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Keene School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Keene High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Lowest	13.0Highest
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.