Compare towns
Keene vs White River Junction vs Swanzey vs Sullivan
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sullivan 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 | White River Junction | Swanzey | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,364 |
7,398 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Swanzey and Sullivan 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey and Sullivan 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% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%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% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$259,200±$15k 22% below U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,508±$303Highest 7% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Swanzey 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,558 78% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and Keene 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Monadnock Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 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.