Compare towns
Marlborough vs Thornton vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
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 | Thornton | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,048Lowest |
2,799 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±11.7 10% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Thornton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough and Keene 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,356±$10kLowest 32% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Thornton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,700±$44k 35% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $973±$153Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
| Keene and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,076 9% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±17.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±10.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.