What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Keene	Topsham
People
Population	22,939Highest	9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham 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 U.S.: 35.7%	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Topsham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.	$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% 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.	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.9Lowest 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%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Lowest 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

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.