Compare towns
Keene vs Wells vs White River Junction
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 the most expensive homes ($485k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
11,713 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.