Compare towns
Keene vs Surry vs Stoddard
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 renters (44.9% rent).
Surry has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Surry | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,052Lowest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Stoddard 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% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stoddard and Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
| Surry and Stoddard 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 |
$331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
| Surry and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest about the NH average |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry 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 | — | Stoddard 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.