Compare towns
Keene vs Wilder vs Bedford
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 youngest population (median age 37.6).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k 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 | Wilder | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939 |
3,087Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.