Compare towns
Keene vs White River Junction vs Northfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,364Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Highest 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
| Keene and Northfield 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% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Northfield 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% 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 | $6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Keene 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.