What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sutton	Keene
People
Population	9,452Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S.
	Keene and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 282 in MA	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Sutton	Keene School District
High school in town	Sutton High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.