Compare towns
Marlborough vs Keene vs Bristol
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Keene | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207Lowest |
22,939Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Keene and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35kHighest 34% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Keene and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 5% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Marlborough 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 | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Marlborough School District | Keene School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.