Compare towns
Marlborough vs Keene vs Tamworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Tamworth has the most expensive homes ($367k 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 | Marlborough | Keene | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207Lowest |
22,939Highest |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.6±10.9 5% above NH |
| Marlborough and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tamworth and Marlborough 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% |
33.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH |
$68,036±$20kLowest 31% below NH |
| Keene and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$366,800±$29kHighest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323 24% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,110±$184Lowest 26% below NH |
| Keene and Marlborough 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 |
$4,474Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.6%±31.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Keene 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% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 minHighest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth 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 | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Marlborough School District | Keene School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| 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.