What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Rochester	Keene
People
Population	33,144Highest	22,939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kHighest 18% below NH	$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH
	Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kHighest 31% below NH	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH	$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH
	Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$6,812Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Highest NH: 72.8%	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Keene and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Keene School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.