Compare towns
Sullivan vs Rochester 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
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rochester | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
33,144Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Sullivan and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$279,100±$10kHighest 31% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Rochester 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.