What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Royalton	Keene
People
Population	2,752Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,200±$73kHighest 21% below U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
	Royalton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.
	Keene and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	White River Unified School District #79	Keene School District
High school in town	White River Valley High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	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.