Compare towns
Keene vs Sullivan vs Topsham
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).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Sullivan | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
687Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Topsham 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% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Topsham 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. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham 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. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Topsham 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Keene School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.