Compare towns
Surry vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Nelson | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052 |
648Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Surry and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Surry and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Nelson and Surry 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384 4% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.