Compare towns
Roxbury vs Chatham vs Keene vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Roxbury | Chatham | Keene | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
430 |
22,939Highest |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Chatham and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8 NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14k 30% below NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219k 20% below NH |
$362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Chatham and Nelson 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Keene and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 13% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Keene School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.