Compare towns
Keene vs Wells vs Freeport
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 affordable homes ($253k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Freeport has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Wells | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
11,713 |
8,802Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
| Wells and Freeport 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Freeport 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% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123Highest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Keene School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Wells High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.