Compare towns
Keene vs White River Junction vs Chester
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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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.
| Measure | Keene | White River Junction | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,364Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Chester 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Keene and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Chester 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 |
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.