Compare towns
Keene vs White River Junction vs Portsmouth vs Swanzey
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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Swanzey has the most homeowners (71.7%).
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 | Portsmouth | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,364Lowest |
22,545 |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey and Portsmouth 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Swanzey 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$5,558Lowest 78% 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% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Portsmouth High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.