Compare towns
Sullivan vs Needham vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.
| Measure | Sullivan | Needham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
32,459Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Sullivan and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.