Compare towns

Ripton vs Keene vs Salisbury vs Hancock

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).

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.

MeasureRiptonKeeneSalisburyHancock
People
Population
508
22,939Highest
1,200
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
33.8±11.6Lowest
13% below U.S.
Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hancock and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Ripton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
$99,688±$21k
23% above U.S.
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$252,500±$12k
24% below U.S.
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
$187,900±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
$939±$19Lowest
34% below U.S.
Salisbury and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,842
55% above U.S.
$3,511Lowest
13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
19 min
29% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Keene School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town Keene High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.