Compare towns
Keene vs Stratham vs Plymouth
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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stratham | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,754 |
6,601Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.