What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most expensive homes ($253k median).

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

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	Washburn
People
Population	22,939Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washburn 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kHighest 24% below U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	21 minHighest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Keene and Washburn 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	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Keene High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.