Compare towns
Keene vs Williston vs Kingston
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 affordable homes ($253k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Williston | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
10,144 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Keene 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Kingston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.