Compare towns
Keene vs Wilder vs Plaistow
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 people working from home (15.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k 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 | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,087Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Keene 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% 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% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Plaistow 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.