Compare towns
Nottingham vs Keene vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Northwood has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Nottingham | Keene | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357 |
22,939Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
| Northwood and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
| Northwood and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Nottingham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319Highest 10% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Northwood 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Keene School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.


