What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Readfield	Keene
People
Population	2,651Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Readfield and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.
	Keene and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield 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	#20 of 133 in ME	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 38	Keene School District
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.