Compare towns
Surry vs Cornish vs Keene vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Surry | Cornish | Keene | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
1,816 |
22,939Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Surry and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kHighest 18% below NH |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Surry and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 4% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Surry 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 | — | Cornish School District | Keene School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.