Compare towns
Marlborough vs Middlesex vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Marlborough | Middlesex | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,048Lowest |
1,943 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±11.7Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Marlborough and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlborough and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,356±$10kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,700±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $973±$153Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Keene and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,076Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1943Lowest 37 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.