Compare towns
Roxbury vs Exeter vs Keene
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%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.
| Measure | Roxbury | Exeter | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Roxbury 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest 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±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219k 20% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Exeter and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.