Compare towns
Keene vs South Hampton vs Temple
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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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.
| Measure | Keene | South Hampton | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
984Lowest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Temple and South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Temple 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
| South Hampton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$401,000±$27k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
| South Hampton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$6,983 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| South Hampton and Temple 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 | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | South Hampton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.