Compare towns
Newington vs Keene vs South Hampton vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Newington | Keene | South Hampton | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
22,939Highest |
984 |
1,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| South Hampton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Newington School District | Keene School District | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.