Compare towns
Keene vs Wilder vs Plainfield
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,087 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Wilder and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% 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% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Wilder 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.