Compare towns

Stoddard vs Gilsum 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

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).

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.

MeasureStoddardGilsumKeene
People
Population
1,072
716Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-7.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
53±4Highest
22% above NH
44.8±8.1
3% above NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
Stoddard and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±3.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
12%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
Stoddard and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.3%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%
NH: 40.6%
18.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.7
NH: 6%
3.1%±2.3Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,904±$11kHighest
4% below NH
$80,417±$7k
19% below NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Stoddard and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,300±$20kHighest
18% below NH
$241,500±$32kLowest
40% below NH
$252,500±$12k
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$751Lowest
40% below NH
$1,575±$894Highest
6% above NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
Gilsum and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,316Lowest
35% below NH
$5,579
16% below NH
$6,812Highest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.6%±100
NH: 48.2%
76.5%±55.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Gilsum and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
13.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
1 yr older than NH
1972
7 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
25% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
9.5%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.9%±8.7
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
Keene and Gilsum 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 Stoddard School District Monadnock Regional School District Keene School District
High school in town None 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.