Compare towns
Keene vs Strafford vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Strafford | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,372 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Sullivan 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sullivan 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 24% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.