Compare towns
Keene vs Sullivan vs Walpole
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 people working from home (15.6%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
687Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Sullivan and Walpole 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% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Sullivan and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Keene and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
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.