What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stowe	Keene
People
Population	5,285Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Stowe and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Stowe and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Stowe and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.	$6,812Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Keene and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	—	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Stowe Town School District	Keene School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.