Compare towns
Orange vs Keene vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Orange | Keene | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 320Lowest |
22,939Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average |
| Grafton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Grafton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$81,563±$22k 18% below NH |
| Orange and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
| Orange and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH |
| Keene and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,239 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Grafton 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 | — | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | — |
| 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.