Compare towns
Newmarket vs Orford vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Orford has the most homeowners (75.5%).
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.
| Measure | Newmarket | Orford | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,463 |
1,295Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Newmarket and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Newmarket and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Rivendell Academy | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
9.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.