Compare towns
Salisbury vs Keene vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Salisbury | Keene | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
22,939Highest |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Salisbury and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.