What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Gloucester	Keene
People
Population	5,766Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±5.5Highest 3% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	New Gloucester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,100±$29kHighest 7% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.
	Keene and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Keene and New Gloucester 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	#65 of 133 in ME	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 15/MSAD 15	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

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.