Compare towns

Newfields vs Keene vs Barnstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsKeeneBarnstead
People
Population
2,023Lowest
22,939Highest
4,994
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Highest
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Barnstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Lowest
NH: 6%
Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$111,660±$12k
13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
61% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$362,400±$25k
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323Highest
26% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,812
about the NH average
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Barnstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
4% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #81 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District Keene School District Barnstead 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.