Compare towns
Surry vs Durham 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
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
15,080 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Surry and Keene 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Surry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Durham and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 18% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Surry 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.