Compare towns
Keene vs Wilder vs Hanover 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 most renters (44.9% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,087 |
11,685 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Wilder 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% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sullivan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% 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% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.



